SCOTLAND

Design Services

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what contracts his Department has awarded for design services since May 2010; and what information his Department holds on the location of such companies.

David Mundell: Since May 2010, the Scotland Office has not awarded any contracts for design services.

Design Services

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much his Department has spent on design in respect of (a) logos, (b) buildings, (c) advertising, (d) stationery and (e) campaigns in the last year for which figures are available.

David Mundell: During 2010-11, the Scotland Office incurred no expenditure on design in respect of logos, buildings, advertising, stationery or campaigns.

Judicial Review

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what applications for judicial review have been made against his Department (a) in the last Parliament and (b) since May 2010; whether each such application (i) succeeded, (ii) failed and (iii) remains pending; what legal costs were incurred by his Department for each such application; in each failed application whether he applied for costs against the applicant and whether they were (A) awarded and (B) paid; whether his Department (1) paid for and (2) offered to pay for the legal costs incurred by each such applicant; and what the total cost to the public purse was of payment of the legal costs for each such applicant.

David Mundell: In the last Parliament there were two applications:
	(1) Derek Traynor and James Fisher raised petitions for judicial review against the Secretary of State for Scotland and Scottish Ministers in respect of the Scottish Parliament (Elections etc.) Order 2007. The applications were unsuccessful at first instance in the Court of Session, the petitioners appealed, and the appeals remain pending at their request. The legal costs incurred by the Secretary of State for Scotland to date are £4.555.50.
	(2) The Taxpayers Alliance applied for permission to bring judicial review against the Secretary of State for Scotland in respect of the Glasgow Commonwealth Games Act 2008 (Games Association Right) Order 2009. The application was refused. The Scotland Office's legal costs were £7,080. The Scotland Office applied for costs against the applicant. Costs were awarded in part and they have been paid.
	There have been no applications for judicial review against the Scotland Office since May 2010.

Sovereignty

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received on the status of Scotland within the EU should Scotland become an independent state.

David Mundell: I have not received formal representations on the possible status of an independent Scotland within the EU.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Design Services

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what contracts his Department has awarded for design services since May 2010; and what information his Department holds on the location of such companies.

Owen Paterson: Since May 2010, my Department has not awarded any new contracts for design services.

Design Services

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much his Department has spent on design in respect of (a) logos, (b) buildings, (c) advertising, (d) stationery and (e) campaigns in the last year for which figures are available.

Owen Paterson: Comparable figures for my Department as it is now configured are not available before 12 April 2010 following the completion of devolution of policing and justice functions.
	In June 2010, the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland (EONI), which while operating independently of the Northern Ireland Office, is part of the Department for accounting purposes, spent £2,420 on the design of Electoral ID cards.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Arts

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the level of entrepreneurism in the cultural sector; and what steps he is taking to ensure funding by his Department is linked to the creation of growth and jobs in that sector;
	(2)  what recent assessment he has made of the potential for growth in the arts and culture sector.

Edward Vaizey: This Department has not collated information on the level of entrepreneurism in the cultural sector.
	In July this year, Arts Council England published ‘Supporting the growth in the arts economy’, available at:
	http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/publication_archive/supporting-growth-arts-economy
	This report identifies the opportunities to maximise the benefits for the creative economy through better targeted public investment in the arts sector.
	Arts Council England is contributing to the arts sector skills needed for the creative industries, as set out in the Arts Council's Plan 2011-15.

Arts

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what steps he is taking to increase the number of purpose-built buildings and studios for the creative industries in each of the English regions;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the availability of purpose-built workspaces for office and studio users in the creative industries in each region.

Edward Vaizey: We are aware of much good work being undertaken in the private sector on providing flexible incubation spaces for creative industries, for example, the network of Hub spaces in London or iShed in Bristol, to name just two. The Government have also undertaken work through Tech City to provide additional incubation workspaces for creative companies in London.
	Arts Council England has provided grants for artists' spaces through their 2001 Arts Capital programme and the 2003 Grants for the arts—capital programmes. This has included ACME Studios to funding purpose-built artist studio space in Harrow, Tower Hamlets, Southwark and Brent:
	http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/rfo/acme-studios/
	and
	http://www.acme.org.uk
	and
	Wysing Arts in Cambridge:
	http://www.wysingarts.org
	It has also refurbished existing artist workspaces (e.g. Stroud Valleys Artspace, Stroud) and converted existing non-arts buildings into artist workspaces (e.g. High Bridge Studios and Gallery, Newcastle).
	The £180 million large-scale capital programme launched by the Arts Council on 1 November 2011 prioritises the improved resilience and sustainability of existing arts infrastructure rather than funding for new, purpose-built buildings or artist studio spaces.

Arts Council England

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the potential effect on music education of reductions in the budget of Arts Council England.

Edward Vaizey: holding answer 10 November 2011
	Funding for music education is primarily the responsibility of the Department for Education. Arts organisations funded by Arts Council England, which play a role in supporting and enhancing the delivery of music education, will continue to deliver a first rate offer. Its new Bridge network, including Sage Gateshead and the Royal Opera House, will develop vital links between schools and arts organisations from April next year. Between them, the Bridge network organisations will receive £10 million per year.
	This is being achieved through an increase in lottery funding of 43% over the next four years, and limiting the savings required from the Arts Council’s front-line grant to 15% over the same period.
	Bids will shortly be invited for Arts Council England’s £45 million Touring Programme, which will be open to bids from a broad range of artforms, including organisations that could deliver music education projects across the country.

Cultural Quarter

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether he is taking steps to support the Cultural Quarter at (a) Birmingham, (b) Eastside, (c) Southampton, (d) Doncaster, (e) Leicester and (f) Colchester.

Edward Vaizey: I attended and spoke at the Birmingham Creative City Launch on 25 October 2011, bringing together people from local businesses, arts and the local enterprise partnership with the aim to increase the area's economic output by 30% (£8.25 billion) and create 100,000 private sector jobs by 2020.
	This year Arts Council England has invested £97,704 regular funding in Birmingham City University and an additional £24,536 through grants for the arts to Eastside Projects Limited. On 31 March 2011 the National Portfolio decisions were announced by the Art Council England and consolidated the University and Eastside Projects Limited who will receive an award of £122,704.
	Arts Council England has offered Southampton city council £349,302 and Doncaster metropolitan borough council £43,758 from 2012-2015 as part of their National Portfolio. It has also made a capital investment of £7.2 million to deliver an arts complex across the larger Grosvenor and Southampton city council development, and £2.1 million to deliver a new performance venue in Doncaster.
	Leicester's Cultural Quarter hosts the Curve and Phoenix Square. The Curve will receive more than £5.7 million for 2012-15 from Arts Council England. From April 2012 Phoenix Square will receive more than £245,000 over a three year period to develop its programme of world-class digital art. In addition, Phoenix Square has received a national lottery grant for the arts award for £10,000 for a new media artist-in-residence project and resulting exhibition programme running between January and March 2012.
	The partnership between Colchester borough council (£4.25 million), Essex county council (£6.5 million), the University of Essex (£1 million), the East of England Development Agency (£6.24 million) and Arts Council England (£9.25 million) has delivered a £28 million capital investment in Firstsite, an international art gallery supporting many creative businesses and artists who work in the locality and increasing visitor numbers. Arts Council England is working closely with Colchester borough council and other public and private sector partners to establish the next phase of the quarter through the proposed development of a creative business centre, which, it is hoped, will grow their creative business profile and contribute to the vibrancy of the local economy.

Culture: Education

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the level of access to cultural education providers in each region; and what assessment he has made of the effects of such provision on regional arts organisations.

Edward Vaizey: Cultural education providers include a diverse range of organisations, including schools, further and higher education institutions, and the voluntary, community and private sectors. They encompass cultural forms as diverse as architecture and the built environment, archives, craft, dance, design, digital arts, drama and theatre, film, heritage, literature, museums, music, poetry and the visual arts. Regional arts organisations are part of this infrastructure.
	This Department measures children’s and adult’s levels of engagement with cultural activities through the Taking Part survey. The latest adult and child findings can be found at:
	www.culture.gov.uk/publications/8398.aspx

Judicial Review

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what applications for judicial review have been made against his Department (a) in the last Parliament and (b) since May 2010; whether each such application (i) succeeded, (ii) failed and (iii) remains pending; what legal costs were incurred by his Department for each such application; in each failed application whether he applied for costs against the applicant and whether they were (A) awarded and (B) paid; whether his Department (1) paid for and (2) offered to pay for the legal costs incurred by each such applicant; and what the total cost to the public purse was of payment of the legal costs for each such applicant.

John Penrose: The information requested for part (a) is not held centrally by this Department, and could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.
	The Department does not record centrally the number of times it has been taken to court or the number of decisions taken by the Department that were subject to a judicial review and the outcome of each case.
	However, I am able to confirm with regard to part (b), there have been three occasions since 6 May 2010 where an application of permission for judicial review has been sought where my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport or his predecessor, has been the defendant.
	Of these, permission to apply for judicial review was granted on one occasion. In the High Court, judgment was decided 93% in the Department for Culture, Media and Sports' favour. There is an appeal pending in the Court of Appeal.
	The second application was refused permission. The third application was withdrawn before the application was determined.
	In addition to the above, the Secretary of State is an interested party in another application for permission to judicial review. The application has not yet been determined, and is next before the court on 14 December.
	The Secretary of State was in addition party to a group of proceedings which have now been settled.
	Finally, the Secretary of State has been added as a third party to a set of proceedings which are not technically classified as a judicial review but we are treating the case as if it were because a public law challenge has been brought. The case has been settled. The Department's expenditure on legal advice for the years 2006-07 to 2011-12 is set out in the table.
	We are unable to provide the information in the manner requested because we do not separately record costs incurred for judicial reviews, and they are not readily identifiable from overall external legal costs expenditure.
	
		
			 Financial year Total (£) 
			 2011-12 958,691 
			 2010-11 1,706,527 
			 2009-10 2,536,095 
			 2008-09 2,499,831 
			 2007-08 2,262,809 
			 2006-07 2,540,994

Michael Hintze

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport pursuant to his answer of 9 November 2011, Official Report, columns 318-19W, on Adam Werritty, what the nature was of the meeting between the Minister with responsibility for culture, communications and creative industries and Michael Hintze on 21 July 2011; where the meeting took place; whether any civil servants were present; and who arranged for the meeting to take place.

Edward Vaizey: My meeting with Mr Michael Hintze on 21 July 2011 was a private meeting and no civil servants were present. The meeting took place in the Department and was arranged by my ministerial office and Michael Hintze’s office.
	Michael Hintze is a philanthropist who gives generously to a range of arts bodies, including an exceptional gift of £2 million from the Hintze Family Charitable Foundation to the National Gallery, announced in January of this year.

Olympic Games 2012: Roads

Bob Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what 
	(1)  steps his Department plans to take to support the tourist industry in central London during proposed road closures during the London 2012 Olympic games;
	(2)  estimate his Department has made of the cost to the tourist industry in central London of the proposed road closures to non-Olympic traffic during the London 2012 Olympic games.

Hugh Robertson: There are no plans for widespread road closures in central London for the 2012 games. Roads will be closed at certain times for planned road events, such as the Marathon, and a handful of roads will be closed to allow for the efficient and secure management of the sporting venues. Other than this, none of the roads on the Olympic route network (ORN) will be closed because, where games lanes are implemented, there will always be at least one other lane open to general traffic.
	Hosting the games is a huge logistical challenge. London 2012 and Transport for London are running an extensive programme of engagement with London's boroughs, residents and businesses in the run-up to the games. In particular, they are working with the tourism industry to help it make sensible preparations to make the most of the games and help manage demand for transport.
	The Department is committed to ensuring that the tourism industry maximises the economic benefits provided by the games. VisitBritain will be investing around £127 million in a new international marketing programme and we have recently announced a new campaign, which will be launched next year by VisitEngland, to use the games to boost domestic tourism.

Sports: Clubs

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what funding his Department provides for independent sports clubs running programmes for children.

Hugh Robertson: The Department does not directly award funding to sports clubs. The day to day decision making on funding would fall to the lottery distributors. The financial support available to community sports clubs is primarily channelled through Sport England's Whole Sport Plans for the National Governing Bodies, county sports partnerships and local authorities.

Theatres: Voluntary Work

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many people in each region volunteered in (a) theatres, (b) museums, (c) art galleries and (d) national heritage sites in each year from 1997 to July 2010.

Edward Vaizey: holding answer 14 November 2011
	Data from the Taking Part survey show the following percentage of adults in England who engaged in volunteering in each year from 2005-06:
	
		
			  Percentage of adults 
			 2005-06 23.8 
			 2006-07 24.0 
			 2007-08 24.0 
			 2008-09 25.0 
			 2009-10 (1)— 
			 2010-11 24.2 
			 (1) No data available. 
		
	
	Of those who volunteered, the following percentage of adults volunteered in arts, museums/galleries and heritage:
	
		
			 Percentage 
			  Arts Museums/galleries Heritage 
			 2005-06 6.3 1.4 4.9 
			 2006-07 5.9 1.1 4.2 
			 2007-08 7.0 1.2 4 
			 2008-09 6.4 1.1 4.7 
			 2009-10 (1)— (1)— (1)— 
			 2010-11 8.1 1.4 4.2 
			 (1) No data available. Source: Taking Part survey. 
		
	
	This information is also available on this Department’s website and can be accessed using the following link:
	http://www.dcms.gov.uk/publications/8462.aspx
	Regional volunteering data for the sectors requested are not available.
	Information prior to this is not collated centrally and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

Data Protection

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Attorney-General what steps the Law Officers Departments are taking to prevent the online dissemination of information relating to ongoing court cases.

Edward Garnier: The Law Officers Departments are not responsible for policing the content of the internet. Our Departments, for example the Crown Prosecution Service, will raise concerns with publishers of online material relating to ongoing court cases where a publication risks breaching reporting restrictions or amounting to contempt of court. This could also be done at the request of the court. Where a contempt is thought to have been committed the Department will raise that with the court so it may consider referring the matter to the Attorney-General or me for possible action.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Parliament Week: Costs

Greg Knight: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, representing the House of Commons Commission, what the cost to the public purse was of running Parliament week in November 2011.

John Thurso: The cost of Parliament week 2011 is forecast to be £35,000. As a new national initiative, most of the Parliament week budget has been dedicated to set-up costs, including the costs associated with the design of a new website at:
	www.parliamentweek.org
	We anticipate this cost being significantly lower in future years. In addition, other teams across Parliament (such as parliamentary outreach and the education service) have run events and activities to coincide with Parliament week, all of which were met using existing budgets.

Data Security

Karl McCartney: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, representing the House of Commons Commission, what measures are in place to help prevent the unauthorised monitoring of telephone conversations on the parliamentary estate.

John Thurso: Telephone systems are maintained and their software regularly updated. Voicemail is password protected. A range of other security measures protects users’ data, but we do not comment on specific security arrangements.

Data Security

Karl McCartney: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, representing the House of Commons Commission, what measures are in place to help prevent unauthorised monitoring of e-mails and data held on computers on the parliamentary estate.

John Thurso: The e-mail system is maintained and regularly updated. A range of other security measures protects users’ data, but we do not comment on specific security arrangements.

PRIME MINISTER

Members: Correspondence

John Mann: To ask the Prime Minister when he expects to complete his inquiries and respond to the letters of 4 December and 8 December 2010 from the hon. Member for Bassetlaw.

David Cameron: A reply has been sent.

Ministerial Policy Advisers: Manpower

Dave Watts: To ask the Prime Minister how many unpaid special advisers and policy advisers work in each Government Department; and what the name is of each such adviser.

David Cameron: An updated list of special advisers is published quarterly. This is available on the Cabinet Office website:
	http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/special-adviser-data-releases
	Departmental organisation charts, along with details of senior staff, can be accessed on departmental websites.

EDUCATION

Academies: Standards

Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what intervention mechanisms are available to him should (a) an academy and (b) a free school be found by the regulator to be offering a sub-standard level of education.

Nick Gibb: The intervention powers of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education in respect of academies and free schools are set out in each academy's or free school's Articles of Association and Funding Agreement.
	For all academies and free schools which have opened on the Department’s standard terms since September 2010, the Articles ensure that the Secretary of State can appoint additional governors to take over control of poorly performing academies. These additional governors can be appointed where an academy has failed to comply with a warning notice which the Secretary of State issued on the grounds that
	“the standards of performance of pupils at an Academy are unacceptably low”.
	Additional governors can alternatively be appointed where an academy has dropped by two Ofsted grades in a five year period or where a school which is in special measures is judged by Ofsted to have made inadequate progress at its next inspection and the Secretary of State is not satisfied with the academy's proposed action plan.
	The Funding Agreement also provides that the Secretary of State can terminate the Funding Agreement where the academy is in special measures, is judged by Ofsted to have made inadequate progress at the first monitoring report and the Secretary of State is dissatisfied with the academy's proposed Action Plan.

Care to Learn Programme

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will guarantee that the budget for the Care to Learn programme will not be reduced over the next spending period regardless of the results of his Department's consultation on Care to Learn.

Nick Gibb: We expect the Care to Learn budget to rise across the spending review period, as we move towards the raising of the participation age to 17 in 2013 and to 18 in 2015.

Care to Learn Programme

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will guarantee that the payments to people from the Care to Learn programme will not be reduced as a result of his Department's consultation on Care to Learn.

Nick Gibb: In consulting on the future of the Care to Learn programme we made clear that our preferred option was to avoid any changes to payment rates under the scheme. The consultation closed on 28 October 2011. All comments are being considered, and a summary report on the responses to the consultation will be published later in the year on the Department for Education consultation website.

Care to Learn Programme

Liz Kendall: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many people aged (a) 19 and (b) 20 years receive funding through the Care to Learn scheme by (i) constituency and (ii) local authority area.

Nick Gibb: This is a matter for the Young People's Learning Agency (YPLA) which operates the Care to Learn allowance for the Department for Education. Peter Lauener, the YPLA's chief executive, has written to the hon. Member for Leicester West with the information requested and a copy of his reply has been placed in the House Libraries.
	Letter from Peter Lauener dated 7 November 2011
	I am writing in response to your Parliamentary Question PQ78713 that asked:
	“How many people aged (a) 19 and (b) 20 years receive funding through the Care to Learn scheme by (i) constituency and (ii) local authority area.”
	The number of people aged 19 and 20 years who received funding through the Care to Learn scheme in the 2010/11 academic year was 1882 and 237 respectively. I have attached a breakdown of these figures by local authority area. These are take-up figures as at 31 August 2011.
	This information is not available by constituency.
	
		
			 National figures—All care to learn take-up for 2010/11 academic year—August 2011 
			  Age 
			 Local authority area: 19 years 20 years 
			 Barking and Dagenham 13 0 
			 Barnet 7 1 
			 Barnsley 6 0 
			 Bath and North East Somerset 1 0 
			 Bedford 18 1 
			 Bexley 3 1 
			 Birmingham 48 3 
		
	
	
		
			 Blackburn with Darwen 10 1 
			 Blackpool 13 2 
			 Bolton 21 1 
			 Bournemouth 1 0 
			 Bracknell Forest 4 1 
			 Bradford 19 4 
			 Brent 15 3 
			 Brighton and Hove 4 2 
			 Bristol 23 4 
			 Bromley 8 0 
			 Buckinghamshire 4 3 
			 Bury 7 2 
			 Calderdale 11 0 
			 Cambridgeshire 16 1 
			 Camden 0 1 
			 Central Bedfordshire 7 1 
			 Cheshire East 12 1 
			 Cheshire West and Chester 13 4 
			 City of London 0 0 
			 Cornwall 30 1 
			 Coventry 21 1 
			 Croydon 30 8 
			 Cumbria 13 1 
			 Darlington 13 1 
			 Derby 14 1 
			 Derbyshire 23 3 
			 Devon 17 1 
			 Doncaster 10 1 
			 Dorset 5 1 
			 Dudley 2 1 
			 Durham 28 5 
			 Ealing 8 1 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 7 1 
			 East Sussex 14 0 
			 Enfield 15 2 
			 Essex 15 2 
			 Gateshead 10 2 
			 Gloucestershire 20 4 
			 Greenwich 6 1 
			 Hackney 17 1 
			 Halton 9 1 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 5 1 
			 Hampshire 24 4 
			 Haringey 4 0 
			 Harrow 0 1 
			 Hartlepool 7 1 
			 Havering 5 2 
			 Herefordshire 2 0 
			 Hertfordshire 15 2 
			 Hillingdon 11 1 
			 Hounslow 6 2 
			 Isle of Wight 8 4 
			 Isles of Scilly 0 0 
			 Islington 7 4 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 4 0 
			 Kent 36 3 
			 Kingston upon Hull 13 2 
			 Kingston upon Thames 1 0 
			 Kirklees 18 2 
		
	
	
		
			 Knowsley 12 1 
			 Lambeth 15 1 
			 Lancashire 59 8 
			 Leeds 31 5 
			 Leicester 16 5 
			 Leicestershire 22 3 
			 Lewisham 26 4 
			 Lincolnshire 25 0 
			 Liverpool 24 0 
			 Luton 9 0 
			 Manchester 24 1 
			 Medway 8 1 
			 Merton 6 2 
			 Middlesbrough 7 0 
			 Milton Keynes 19 4 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne 14 1 
			 Newham 9 0 
			 Norfolk 9 1 
			 North East Lincolnshire 10 0 
			 North Lincolnshire 3 1 
			 North Somerset 4 0 
			 North Tyneside 14 0 
			 North Yorkshire 15 1 
			 Northamptonshire 27 0 
			 Northumberland 8 1 
			 Nottingham 22 1 
			 Nottinghamshire 37 1 
			 Oldham 29 3 
			 Oxfordshire 20 1 
			 Peterborough 6 2 
			 Plymouth 8 3 
			 Poole 3 0 
			 Portsmouth 6 1 
			 Reading 12 1 
			 Redbridge 17 1 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 7 0 
			 Richmond upon Thames 0 0 
			 Rochdale 20 2 
			 Rotherham 5 1 
			 Rutland 1 0 
			 Salford 7 3 
			 Sandwell 21 1 
			 Sefton 12 1 
			 Sheffield 15 4 
			 Shropshire 6 2 
			 Slough 3 0 
			 Solihull 3 0 
			 Somerset 10 5 
			 South Gloucestershire 6 1 
			 South Tyneside 6 0 
			 Southampton 4 0 
			 Southend on Sea 7 0 
			 Southwark 19 4 
			 St Helens 8 1 
			 Staffordshire 21 6 
			 Stockport 24 2 
			 Stockton-on-Tees 5 0 
			 Stoke-on-Trent 12 0 
			 Suffolk 10 3 
			 Sunderland 16 0 
			 Surrey 9 3 
		
	
	
		
			 Sutton 9 2 
			 Swindon 6 0 
			 Tameside 15 2 
			 Telford and Wrekin 5 2 
			 Thurrock 2 0 
			 Torbay 6 1 
			 Tower Hamlets 4 2 
			 Trafford 8 2 
			 Wakefield 12 2 
			 Walsall 21 0 
			 Waltham Forest 5 1 
			 Wandsworth 4 1 
			 Warrington 6 2 
			 Warwickshire 19 3 
			 West Berkshire 5 0 
			 West Sussex 13 5 
			 Westminster 5 0 
			 Wigan 34 0 
			 Wiltshire 15 3 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead 1 0 
			 Wirral 14 1 
			 Wokingham 1 0 
			 Wolverhampton 11 3 
			 Worcestershire 23 5 
			 York 11 0 
			 Unmapped(1) 17 1 
			 Grand Total 1882 237 
			 (1 )Individuals unassigned to a local authority.

Child Protection

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Education by what date he expects the recommendations of Professor Munro's Review of Child Protection to be fully implemented.

Tim Loughton: Professor Munro's review of child protection was the very first review established in the Department for Education, on 10 June 2010, underlining the priority the Government place on getting child protection right. Professor Munro's recommendations emphasise the importance of system-wide reform. There are no quick fixes; nor is there a one off set of solutions to be imposed from the centre.
	The Government's response to Professor Munro's review, published on 13 July 2011, signalled the start of a shift in mindset and an essential re-balancing in the relationship between central Government and local government, local agencies and frontline professionals. Our aim, working in partnership with the sector, is to create the conditions for sustained, long-term reform which enables and inspires professionals to do their best for vulnerable children and their families.
	The Government's approach to the reform of the child protection system is driven by three key principles:
	trusting skilled frontline professionals to use their professional judgment;
	reducing bureaucracy and prescription to give professionals more time and space to work directly with children and families; and
	above all, being child-centred.
	We want to build a child protection system where the focus is very firmly on the experience of the child or young person's journey from needing to receiving help.
	The Government response set out indicative timescales for responding to Professor Munro's recommendations in the short to medium term in order to establish a clear framework for future progress. We made clear that local leaders would need to determine the pace of reform in their areas in order to deliver the system-wide change needed to deliver lasting improvements.
	Professor Munro will undertake an interim assessment of progress in spring 2012.

Children’s Centres

Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many children attended Sure Start centres in (a) Wallasey constituency, (b) the Wirral, (c) the north-west region, (d) England and (e) the UK in (i) 2011 and (ii) each of the last five years.

Sarah Teather: holding answer 14 November 2011
	The Department does not collect this information. Local authorities in England have a statutory duty to ensure there are sufficient children's centres in their area to meet local need, so far as is reasonably practicable. It is for local authorities to commission children's centres and to monitor and evaluate the use and impact of their services. Responsibility for early education and child care in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland rests with the devolved Administrations.

Education Maintenance Allowance

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will list the title of each research paper, study and other source of evidence drawn on by his Department in reaching the decision to end the education maintenance allowance.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 3 November 2011
	When making the decision to end the education maintenance allowance (EMA), the Department for Education drew upon a range of internal and external resources.
	The Department considered independent evaluation and research which had been commissioned by the previous Government. This includes a number of reports on the EMA pilot which were undertaken by a consortium led by the Centre for Research into Social Policy (CRSP) and involving the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) and the National Centre for Social Research. The main reports referred to were:
	Ashworth, K., Hardman, J., Hartfree, Y., Maguire, S., Middleton, S., Smith, D., Dearden, L., Emmerson, C, Frayne, C, Meghir, C. (2002), “Education Maintenance Allowance: The First Two Years: A Quantitative Evaluation”, Department for Education and Skills Research Report 352; and
	Chowdry, H., Dearden, L. and Emmerson, C. (2007) “Education Maintenance Allowance: Evaluation with Administrative Data—The Impact of the EMA pilots on participation and attainment in post-compulsory education”, Institute for Fiscal Studies/Learning and Skills Council.
	These reports, and other evaluation evidence, are available at:
	http://ema.ypla.gov.uk/resources/research/evaluation-reports/
	The Department also considered research into barriers to participation (including financial barriers), which was undertaken by the National Foundation for Educational Research, working in partnership with Triangle and QA Research: (Spielhofer et al (2010) “Barriers to Participation in Education and Training; DFE RR009”. This is available at
	https://www.education.gov.uk/publications/eOrderingDownload/DFE-RR009.pdf
	Beyond these primary reports and sources of evidence, analysis underpinning the decision to end EMA drew on a wide range of published research, as follows:
	Aitken, G.; P. Byram; G. Whalley and D. Moore. (2007). “Evaluation of the EMA National Roll-out”.
	Allan, T.; M. Campbell and K. Latimer (2009). “Evaluation of the 2008-09 EMA Policy Changes”.
	Allen, T.; B. Dobson; J. Hardman; S. Maguire; S. Middleton; J. Graham; K. Woodfield; M. Maguire. (2003). “Education Maintenance Allowance Pilots for Vulnerable Young People and Childcare Pilots: Implementation and Reported Impacts in the First Year”.
	Ashworth, K; J. Hardman; W. Liu; S. Maguire; S. Middleton; L. Dearden; C. Emmerson; C. Frayne; A. Goodman; H. Ichimura and C. Meghir. (2001). “Education Maintenance Allowance: The First Year—A Quantitative Evaluation”.
	Burgess, M. (2009). “Evaluation of the New Criteria for Provision Associated with the Education Maintenance Allowance”: Learning and Skills Council: York Consulting: March 2009.
	Curs, B. R; L.D. Singell. and G.R. Waddell. (2007). “Money for Nothing? The Impact of Changes in the Pell Grant Program on Institutional Revenues and the Placement of Need Students”.
	DCSF, (2009). “Youth Cohort Study and Longitudinal Study of Young People in England: the Activities and Experiences of 17 year olds: England 2008”.
	Dearden, L; Emmerson, C; Frayne, C. and Meghir, C. (2008). Conditional Cash Transfers and School Dropout Rates. “The Journal of Human Resources”, 44 (4). Pp. 827-857.
	DFE (2007). “Schools and Pupils in England, January 2006”.
	Dobson, B. J. Hardman; S. Maguire; S. Middleton; T. Allen; J. Graham; E. Hill; K. Woodfield; M. Maguire. (2003). “Education Maintenance Allowance Pilots for Vulnerable Young People and Childcare Pilots: Implementation and Reported impacts in the First Two Years (2000-2001/2001-2002)”.
	Feinstein, L. and R. Sabates. (2005). “Education and Youth Crime: Effects of Introducing the Education Maintenance Allowance Programme—Research Brief”.
	Finn, D. and Branosky, N. (2004). “Financial support for 16 to 19 year olds: A review of the literature and evidence on the Australian Youth Allowance”.
	Fletcher, M. (2009). “Perspective: should we end the Education Maintenance Allowance?”
	Heaver, C; M. Maguire; S. Middleton; S. Maguire; R. Youngs; B. Dobson; J. Hardman. (2002). “Evaluation of Education Maintenance Allowance Pilots: Leeds and London first Year Evidence”.
	Home Office (2004). “The Reducing Burglary Initiative: design, development and delivery: Home Office Research Study 287”.
	Ianelli, C; J. Ozga; L, Croxford. and C. Howieson. (2002). “Education Maintenance Allowances (EMA): Evaluation of the Easy Ayrshire Pilot”.
	Ipsos MORI and Experian (2008). “Evaluation of the Extension of the Education Maintenance Allowance to Entry-to-Employment and Programme Led Apprenticeships”.
	Knight, T. and C. White. (2003). “The Reflections of Early Leavers and Second Year Participants on the Education Maintenance Allowance Scheme: A Qualitative Study”.
	Legard, R.; K. Woodfield and C. White. (2001). “Staying away or staying on? A qualitative evaluation of the Education Maintenance Allowance—Research Brief”.
	LSC (2009). “Learner Support Programme: EMA Valid Provision Criteria 2009/10: September 2009”.
	Maguire, S., Thompson, J., Hillage, J., Dewson, S., Miller, L., Johnson, C., Newton, B., Bates, P. and Page, R. (2009) “Activity Agreement Pilots Process Evaluation” DCSF-RR095
	Maguire, S. (2008). Paying young people to learn—does it work? “Research in Post-Compulsory Education”, 13 (2). Pp. 205-215.
	Maguire, M.; S. Maguire and J. Vincent. (2001). “Implementation of the Education Maintenance Allowance Pilots: the First Year”. Research Brief.
	Maguire, S.; M. Maguire and C. Heaver. (2002). “Implementation of the Education Maintenance Allowance Pilots: the Second Year”.
	Maguire, S. and M. Maguire. (2003). “Implementation of the Education Maintenance Allowance Pilots: the Third Year (2001/02)”.
	Maguire, S. and M. Maguire. (2004). “Implementation of the Education Maintenance Allowance Pilots: the Fourth Year”.
	Maguire, S. and J. Rennison. (2005). Two Years On: The Destinations of Young People who are Not in Education, Employment or Training at 16. “Journal of Youth Studies”, 8(2). Pp. 187-201.
	Maguire, S. and S. Middleton. (2006). “Young People and the Labour Market: Evidence from the EMA Pilots Database”.
	Maguire, S., Thompson, J. and Middleton, S. (2006). “Paying young people to stay on at school—does it work? Evidence from the evaluation of the piloting of the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA)”: SKOPE Research Paper No. 69, December 2006: University of Warwick.
	Mercer, C. (2008). “Federal Pell Grant Program of the Higher Education Act: Background and Reauthorisation”.
	Middleton, S.; S. Maguire; K. Ashworth; K. Legge; T. Allen; K. Perrin; E. Battistin; L Dearden; C. Emmerson; E. Fitzsimons and C. Meghir. (2003). “The Evaluation of Education Maintenance Allowance Pilots: Three Years Evidence—A Quantitative Evaluation”.
	Middleton, S.; K. Perren; S. Maguire; J. Rennison; E. Battistin; C. Emmerson and E. Fitzsimons. (2005). “Evaluation of Education Maintenance Allowance Pilots: Young People Aged 16 to 19 Years—Final Report of the Quantitative Evaluation”.
	Middleton, S.; J. Rennison; A. Cebulla; K. Perren and S. De-Beaman. (2005a). “Young People from Ethnic Minority Backgrounds: Evidence from the Education Maintenance Allowance Pilots Database”.
	Mundel, D. and Rice, L. (2008). “The Impact of Increases in Pell Grant Awards on College-going among Lower Income Youth”.
	Perren, K.; S. Middleton; C. Emmerson. (2003). Education Maintenance Allowance Transport Pilots—Quantitative Findings from Years 1 and 2 (2001-2002/2002-2003)”.
	Perren, K. and S. Middleton. (2005). “Teenage Mothers and Young People with Special Needs: Evidence from the Education Maintenance Allowance Pilots Database”.
	Rennison, J.; S. Maguire; S. Middleton and K. Ashworth. (2005). “Young People not in Education, Employment or Training: Evidence from the Education Maintenance Allowance Pilots Database—Research Brief”.
	Slavin, R.E. (2009). “Can Financial Incentives Enhance Educational Outcomes? Evidence from International Experiments”. Institute for Effective Education, University of York and John Hopkins University.
	Tanner, E., Purdon, S., D'Souza, J. and Finch, S. (2009) “Activity Agreement Pilots: Quantitative Evaluation” DCSF-RR096
	Tanner, E., Purdon, S., Taylor, E., Finch, S., Maguire, M. (2010) “Activity Agreement Pilots—Follow up survey of 2007-2008 participants” DCSF-RR010 WEB
	York Consulting (2007). “Young people's awareness and experience of Educational Maintenance Allowances (EMAs) and their impact on choices and pathways”.
	York Consulting (2009). “Evaluation of the New Criteria for Provision Associated with the Education Maintenance Allowance”.

Free Schools

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will publish the outcome of the consideration he gave under section 9 of the Academies Act 2010 to the impact of establishing the free schools that opened in September 2011.

Nick Gibb: Under section 9 of the Academies Act 2010 the Secretary of State for Education my right hon. Friend is under a duty to consider the impact of establishing a new school on maintained schools, academies and further education institutions in the area in which the additional school is (or is proposed to be) situated. This consideration includes free schools. Additionally any group whose proposal for a free school is progressed is required to consult locally on their proposals. When deciding whether or not to enter into a funding agreement the Secretary of State will take a range of views into account, alongside the impact assessment.

Free Schools

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  how many free schools are expected to be open by (a) 2012 and (b) 2015;
	(2)  how many free schools are operational; and how many plan to open in the academic year 2011-12;
	(3)  how many pupils are attending free schools.

Nick Gibb: We estimate that over 3,000 pupils have enrolled during the first intake for the 24 free schools that opened in September 2011. This means that these schools are on course to reach their full capacity in the coming years. Further information about the number of children on roll at each school will be collected in the school census and published in due course. There are no plans to open further free schools in the current academic year, but the Department has completed the process of assessing the applications it has received to establish mainstream free schools in September 2012. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education made an oral statement to the House on 10 October 2011, Official Report, columns 62-64, to announce that a further 55 mainstream free schools have been approved to move to the next stage of development. These schools will join eight mainstream free schools already in the pipeline for opening in 2012. A further number of proposals for alternative provision and special free schools are under consideration.
	There will be further application rounds for groups hoping to open free schools in 2013 and beyond. The number of successful proposals in the future will depend on the quality of the proposals and the level of demand from parents and other groups.

Free Schools

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 24 November 2011, Official Report, column 81W, on free schools: West London, when he expects to publish the funding agreement for the West London free school.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 8 November 2011
	The funding agreement for the West London free school will be published in due course.

Free Schools: West London

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether any payment of grant has been made to the West London free school.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 8 November 2011
	Since opening in September, the West London free school has been receiving monthly payments of General Annual Grant (GAG) which is based on providing funding per pupil equivalent to that received by other state-funded schools in the same local authority area. The school has also been paid grant funding to help meet some development costs such as employing a principal designate ahead of opening, purchasing books and equipment, and meeting the costs of employing senior staff while the school builds up from the single year group admitted this September.

Life Skills

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether he plans to take any steps to promote Drinkaware's In:tuition life skills programme.

Sarah Teather: holding answer 7 November 2011
	The work of the Alcohol Network of the Public Health Responsibility Deal launched on 15 March 2011 has, as one if its aims, support for the education of young people about the harms of alcohol misuse and the importance of delaying the onset of drinking. The Alcohol Network sub-group responsible for developing the pledge which addresses this issue is currently considering appropriate evidence-based programmes which look to be best placed to support this aim.

Life Skills

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether he plans to take any steps to promote Drinkaware's In:tuition life skills programme.

Sarah Teather: holding answer 7 November 2011
	It is not the role of government to promote particular programmes. However, the work of the Alcohol Network of the Public Health Responsibility Deal launched on 15 March 2011 has, as one if its aims, support for the education of young people about the harms of alcohol misuse and the importance of delaying the onset of drinking. The Alcohol Network sub-group responsible for developing the pledge which addresses this issue is currently considering appropriate evidence-based programmes which look to be best placed to support this aim.

Local Government Services

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  whether he plans to require local authorities to give consideration to the use of a space for other community services when considering closing such services;
	(2)  whether his revised statutory guidance on Sure Start children's centres will (a) retain the presumption against closure and (b) ensure local authorities demonstrate that outcomes for children will not be adversely affected before decisions on closure are taken.

Sarah Teather: holding answer 14 November 2011
	The revised statutory guidance will not change the legislative framework within which Sure Start children's centres operate. Local authorities will continue to have a legal duty to ensure there are sufficient children's centres in their localities, and to demonstrate that outcomes for children will not be affected. Revised statutory guidance will be published for consultation later on in the year and hon. Members will be given the opportunity to respond to that consultation. Further, the Localism Bill includes new rights for local communities, including the Community Right to Buy. If listed assets come up for sale, communities will have extra time to prepare a bid to take them over, making it easier to keep assets in public use and part of local life. Important local amenities and buildings, such as old town halls, community halls or children's centres, can be nominated for listing by the local authority as assets of community value. Where a local authority sells, transfers or changes the use of capital assets funded by the Department, the Department is likely to ‘claw back’ that funding. However, the Department may defer clawback where an asset continues to be used for a purpose relevant to the original capital grant. These deferrals are assessed on a case by case basis.

Pupils: Disadvantaged

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Education for what reasons funding for the pupil premium has doubled for 2011-12.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 8 November 2011
	On 12 October 2011, the Government announced that the pupil premium for free school meal pupils, and looked-after children, will increase from £430 per pupil to £488 per pupil in 2011-12. The money has been released because fewer children than originally estimated have registered for free school meals this year. Total expenditure on the pupil premium will be £625 million in 2011-12, doubling to £1.25 billion in 2012-13. It will rise again each year until 2014-15 when it will be worth £2.5 billion. The Government are committed to this funding as evidence shows that children from low income families generally do not achieve as well as pupils from more advantaged backgrounds. Schools receive this additional funding on top of the existing school budget to support these children to reach their potential and help schools reduce educational inequalities.

Pupils: Disadvantaged

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether any of the funding allocated for the pupil premium was not taken up in 2010-11.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 8 November 2011
	The pupil premium was introduced in April 2011. For 2011-12, £625 million will be allocated to schools and the planned funding will, therefore, be fully taken up. Schools do not have to apply for this funding as it is allocated on a formula basis to eligible pupils using the following per pupil rates:
	
		
			 Type of pupil Pupil premium per pupil (£) 
			 Pupils known to be eligible for free school meals 488 
			 Children looked after continuously for six months 488 
		
	
	
		
			 Children of currently serving members of the armed forces 200

Schools: Admissions

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he expects to publish the revised School Admissions and School Admission Appeals Codes.

Nick Gibb: The White Paper, “The Importance of Teaching”, announced our intention to review the School Admissions Code and the Appeals Code, with a view to delivering a simpler, more streamlined admissions process. We consulted between 27 May and 19 August on these draft codes, and received over 1,300 responses, over half from parents.
	We published both these codes on 2 November for local information and consultation purposes, alongside the departmental response to the consultation, and will shortly consult on the supporting draft regulations.
	We intend to lay the draft codes and regulations before Parliament in December, in order that they are able to come into force in February 2012 in time for the allocation of school places for admission in September 2013.

Schools: Pupils

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he is taking to address changes in the number of (a) primary school students from 2010 and (b) secondary school students from 2016.

Nick Gibb: It is the responsibility of each local authority to manage the supply and changes in demand for primary and secondary school places in their area, and secure a place for every child of statutory school age who wants one. The Department will continue to provide capital funding and monitor the situation with all local authorities to ensure there are sufficient school places.
	The Department collects information from each local authority on school capacity in maintained schools through an annual survey, which includes pupil forecast information (five years for primary places and seven years for secondary places). Forecasts are utilised in order to calculate the capital funding allocations to authorities to provide extra places for future growth in pupil numbers. The survey data at May 2010 are available this autumn and will inform future basic need funding allocations.

Schools: Repairs and Maintenance

Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate has he made of the proportion of (a) all maintained schools and (b) maintained schools built or refurbished since 2006 which are open plan schools.

Nick Gibb: Information regarding the proportion of maintained schools which are open plan is not collected centrally or held by the Department. Therefore we are unable to make any estimate of the proportion of maintained schools that are open plan.

Schools: Vocational Guidance

Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what consideration he has given to the recommendation contained in the Browne report on higher education funding published in October 2010 that every school should be required to make individualised careers advice available to its pupils, delivered by certified professionals.

Nick Gibb: To ensure students make well informed choices about their options at 18, they need access to careers advice that is independent and underpinned by objective information and data. We want university applicants to be able to easily understand what a course will cost, what it will contain and where it might lead.
	Subject to the passage of the Education Bill, schools will be placed under a new duty to secure access to independent and impartial careers guidance for their pupils. The Department will publish statutory guidance to support the new duty. This will set a clear expectation that face-to-face careers guidance should be secured where it is the most suitable support, in particular for disadvantaged young people and those with special needs. The guidance will also contain a clear description of the national quality standard for careers guidance which will act as a marker of quality throughout the system and inform the decisions schools and colleges will make when commissioning independent support for young people.

Students: Transport

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether his Department has assessed the 2011-12 local authority transport plans for 16 to 18 year olds; and what (a) affordable and (b) accessible transport is available for this age group.

Nick Gibb: The Department is undertaking an exercise to establish whether all local authorities have published transport policy statements as required by section 509AA of the Education Act 1996.
	Decisions regarding the extent of such arrangements, including the provision of any financial assistance, are for local authorities to make following appropriate consultation. Local authorities know the location of the schools, the colleges and the other providers, they know the transport infrastructure available and they know the young people who need their support.

Teachers: Pensions

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what the participation rate for the teachers' pension scheme was for each pay band in each year from 2006 to 2010.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 8 November 2011
	The Department does not hold data on the breakdown of teachers' pension scheme participation rates by pay band. The overall participation rate is, however, very high. The scheme accounts show that over the five-year period in question 14,701 teachers and lecturers opted out of the scheme, against a membership of approximately 650,000.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Balkans

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has any plans to visit (a) Serbia, (b) Macedonia and (c) Bosnia.

David Lidington: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs visited Bosnia and Herzegovina in June 2010 and Serbia in August 2010, but has no current plans to visit Serbia, Macedonia or Bosnia and Herzegovina. In my capacity as Minister for Europe, I have visited all three countries over the last 18 months, in addition to visits to fellow Western Balkan countries Albania, Kosovo and Montenegro. I was in Serbia last month (31 October), where I had useful discussions about the country's EU perspective, and the importance of its dialogue with Kosovo.

Bell Pottinger Group

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether (a) Ministers, (b) officials and (c) political advisers in his Department have met representatives of (i) Bell Pottinger Group or (ii) each of its subsidiaries in the last five years; on what dates any such meetings took place; and what was discussed.

David Lidington: A full list of ministerial meetings with external organisations is published quarterly on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's website at:
	www.fco.gov.uk/en/publications-and-documents/transparency-and-data1/hospitality/
	The further information requested is not held centrally and is available only at disproportionate cost.

British Nationals Abroad: Arrests

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many UK citizens were arrested in each other EU member state in each of the last 20 years; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: In the following financial years, the numbers of British nationals requiring consular assistance after arrest in EU member states were:
	
		
			  Number 
			 2008-09 3,481 
			 2009-10 3,138 
			 2010-11 2,662 
		
	
	This information was not collated on a central database before 2008. To break down the above figures into each EU member state would incur a disproportionate cost.
	Supporting British nationals in difficulty around the world is a priority for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. This support is explained in our publication ‘Support for British nationals abroad: A guide’, available on the FCO website at:
	www.fco.gov.uk/resources/en/pdf/2855621/support-for-british-nationals-abroad.pdf
	When British nationals are arrested, our role is to provide information about the local legal system, including the availability of local English-speaking lawyers, and to support the welfare of the detainee.

British Nationals Abroad: Arrests

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of the treatment of British nationals seized aboard the MV Saoirse and the Canadian vessel Al-Tahrir on 4 November 2011 by the Israeli navy.

Alistair Burt: The British embassy in Tel Aviv was made aware of the detention of one British national on 4 November following the interception of the Canadian vessel Al-Tahrir by the Israeli authorities. We were able to secure consular access to visit the individual on 5 November to check on his welfare and continued to do so until his deportation from Israel on 10 November.

British Nationals Abroad: Criminal Proceedings

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many UK nationals were (a) arrested, (b) charged and (c) convicted for each type of offence in each non-EU member state in each of the last 10 years.

Alistair Burt: holding answer 14 November 2011
	In the following financial years, the numbers of British nationals requiring consular assistance after arrest in non-EU member states were:
	
		
			  Number 
			 2008-09 3,451 
			 2009-10 3,340 
			 2010-11 3,056 
		
	
	This information was not collated on a central database before 2008. To break down the above figures into those charged and convicted for each type of offence in each non-EU member state would incur a disproportionate cost.
	Supporting British nationals in difficulty around the world is a priority for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. This support is explained in our publication ‘Support for British nationals abroad: A guide’, available on the FCO website at:
	www.fco.gov.uk/resources/en/pdf/2855621/support-for-british-nationals-abroad.pdf
	When British nationals are arrested, our role is to provide information about the local legal system, including the availability of local English-speaking lawyers, and to support the welfare of the detainee.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has any plans to visit the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Henry Bellingham: For security and operational reasons we do not comment on or announce visits.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many officials in his Department are stationed in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Henry Bellingham: The FCO has six UK based officials stationed in the DRC. Five are based in Kinshasa and one in Goma in the east of the country.
	There are 94 HMG staff based in DRC in total: 41 FCO (six UK, 35 locally engaged), 50 DFID (20 UK, 30 locally engaged), three MOD (two UK, one locally engaged).

Democratic Republic of Congo

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his counterpart in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Henry Bellingham: I have met the DRC Foreign Minister four times in the last 18 months, including when I visited the country in July 2010. We discussed a range of issues including human rights, security, elections, and the UK's support to the country.

Democratic Republic of Congo: Elections

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much funding his Department has provided to support the voter registration process in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Henry Bellingham: Britain through the Department for International Development has provided £25.4 million since 2008 to the UNDP PACE programme to strengthen the capacity of the National Independent Commission. From this contribution, approximately £11 million has gone towards voter registration.

Democratic Republic of Congo: Elections

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with representatives of the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on a review of the DRC electoral roll ahead of elections in that country.

Henry Bellingham: We are pushing the Democratic Republic of Congo’s electoral commission to ensure all parties have access to the electoral roll and to publish full voter lists on its website and in registration centres. Our officials at the embassy in Kinshasa have raised this with the National Independent Electoral Commission.

Democratic Republic of Congo: Elections

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many electoral observers from the UK (a) will be present in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) during the forthcoming election and (b) were present in the DRC during the election in 2006.

Henry Bellingham: There will be five UK electoral observers in the Democratic Republic of Congo as part of the EU observation mission.
	We are working closely with the internationally-recognised monitoring experts in the EU and the Carter Center to ensure a high-quality network of observers will be in the country before, during and after the election.
	In 2006 the UK sent a team of 40 observers led by Chris Mullin MP.

Democratic Republic of Congo: Elections

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his international counterparts on measures to prevent violent street protests surrounding the forthcoming elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Henry Bellingham: At the start of campaigning I made a statement urging all candidates and their supporters to pursue their political goals peacefully and avoid inflaming tensions. We monitor the situation continually, and we participate in regular meetings with the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and international partners on elections security. We have worked on scenario planning with the UN, EU and other partners including contingency plans to be activated in the event of sustained election-related violence.
	UK officials in Kinshasa have discussed our concerns with the DRC authorities who have assured us that the Congolese police are prepared to handle disturbances. The Department for International Development has also provided £2.6 million for election security through their Security Sector Accountability and Police programme.

Democratic Republic of Congo: Elections

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with representatives of the Government of Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on (a) DRC's electoral commission allowing all parties in the DRC to scrutinise the electoral role and (b) the publication of voter lists prior to the forthcoming election in DRC.

Henry Bellingham: We are pushing the Democratic Republic of Congo's (DRC) electoral commission to ensure all parties have access to the electoral roll and to publish full voter lists on its website and in registration centres. UK officials at our embassy in Kinshasa have raised this with the DRC authorities including the National Independent Electoral Commission.

Democratic Republic of Congo: Politics and Government

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance his Department is providing to British nationals affected by the recent political unrest in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Henry Bellingham: We have not received any requests for consular assistance from British nationals affected by the recent political unrest in the Democratic Republic of Congo. We will provide consular assistance as and when requested.

Democratic Republic of Congo: Politics and Government

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his counterpart in the Democratic Republic of Congo on the recent political unrest in that country.

Henry Bellingham: At the start of the election campaign in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), I urged all candidates and their supporters to pursue their political goals peacefully. In response to increased tensions following inflammatory remarks made last week by one of the presidential candidates, our ambassador in Kinshasa has called for all candidates to avoid language which could inflame tensions between communities or lead to confrontation with the security forces. He has also raised our concerns with opposition parties and the DRC authorities, and we will continue to monitor the situation closely.

European Union: Legislative Competence

Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many officials in his Department are working on the Government's examination of the balance of existing European Union competences.

William Hague: The examination of these issues draws on existing resources.

Israel: Embassies

Michael McCann: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his Egyptian counterpart on the future protection of the Israeli embassy in Cairo.

Alistair Burt: I issued a statement on 18 August condemning the attacks in southern Israel earlier that day, calling them appalling and senseless acts of violence and offering sincere condolences to the family and friends of those injured and killed.
	We have reiterated these messages to Egyptian officials, and the Egyptians have reassured us that they take their responsibilities very seriously.
	In the Prime Minister's statement on 10 September, he welcomed Egypt's agreement that it would uphold Egypt's international agreements including its peace treaty with Israel, stated that we looked to Egypt to honour this agreement, and urged both countries to work together to resolve current tensions and enhance regional stability.
	We continue to deliver our key messages on the importance of upholding Egypt-Israeli relations in discussions at official level with both our Egyptian and Israeli interlocutors.

Israel: Embassies

Michael McCann: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his US counterpart on preventing further endangerment of Israeli officials in Egypt following the recent attacks on Israel's embassy in Cairo.

Alistair Burt: I issued a statement on 18 August 2011 condemning the attacks in southern Israel earlier that day, calling them appalling and senseless acts of violence and offering sincere condolences to the family and friends of those injured and killed.
	We have reiterated these messages to Egyptian officials, and the Egyptians have reassured us that they take their responsibilities very seriously.
	In the Prime Minister's statement on 10 September 2011, he welcomed Egypt's agreement that it would uphold Egypt's international agreements including its peace treaty with Israel, stated that we looked to Egypt to honour this agreement, and urged both countries to work together to resolve current tensions and enhance regional stability.
	We continue to deliver our key messages on the importance of upholding Egypt-Israeli relations in discussions at official level with both our Egyptian and Israeli interlocutors.

Kosovo: Borders

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on the administration of the border between Serbia and Kosovo independently by EULEX.

David Lidington: The Government's policy is that Kosovo, as an independent sovereign state, should administer its border with Serbia. Kosovo Border Police and Customs officials already administer the Kosovo/Serbia border crossing points at Merdare, Mutivodë, Dheu i Bardhë and Muçibabë, with support from the EU's Rule of Law Mission (EULEX) in a monitoring and mentoring role.
	Due to the political situation in northern Kosovo, the border crossing points at Brnjak and Jarinje are currently administered by EULEX, with support from NATO's peacekeeping force, KFOR, and a small Kosovo Police and Customs presence. While we are clear that, looking ahead, it is the Kosovo Government which should administer these crossing points, current political tensions mean this is not possible. The UK firmly supports EULEX and KFOR engagement to ensure the security situation at the border remains calm. We continue to underline that the best way to resolve the issue of customs controls in northern Kosovo in a sustainable fashion is through the EU-facilitated Dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade. We urge both sides to re-engage in the Dialogue as soon as possible, to implement those agreements already reached, and to work towards agreement on other related issues.

Kosovo: Borders

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on the administration of the border crossings between Serbia and Kosovo at Jarinje and Brnjak by Albania; and if he will make a statement.

David Lidington: Albania has no role in the administration of the border crossings between Serbia and Kosovo at Jarinje and Brnjak.
	Due to the political situation in northern Kosovo, the border crossing points at Brnjak and Jarinje are currently administered by EULEX (the EU Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo), with support from NATO's peacekeeping force, KFOR and a small Kosovo Customs and Police presence. While we are clear that, looking ahead, it is the Kosovo Government which should administer these crossing points, current political tensions mean this is not possible. The UK firmly supports EULEX and KFOR engagement to ensure the security situation at the border remains calm. We continue to underline that the best way to resolve the issue of customs controls in northern Kosovo in a sustainable fashion is through the EU-facilitated Dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade. We urge both sides to re-engage in the Dialogue as soon as possible, to implement those agreements already reached, and to work towards agreement on other related issues.

Kosovo: Peacekeeping Operations

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contribution the UK is making to the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo.

David Lidington: The UK continues to provide strong political support and direction to the EU Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX). In terms of secondments, the UK currently provides 35 secondees to the Mission, including the Deputy Head of Mission, the Heads of Customs and Organised Crime, judges, police officers and the Chief Spokesperson. While the UK does not contribute separate funding directly to the EULEX budget, the overall UK contribution to the EU CFSP Budget is 15% in 2011, amounting therefore to £19.6 million in the case of CFSP funding for EULEX.

Middle East: Armed Conflict

Michael McCann: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his Egyptian counterpart on relations with Israel following terrorist attacks in southern Israel.

Alistair Burt: I issued a statement on 18 August 2011 condemning the attacks in southern Israel earlier that day, calling them appalling and senseless acts of violence and offering sincere condolences to the family and friends of those injured and killed.
	We have reiterated these messages to Egyptian officials, and the Egyptians have reassured us that they take their responsibilities very seriously.
	In the Prime Minister's statement on 10 September 2011, he welcomed Egypt's agreement that it would uphold Egypt's international agreements including its peace treaty with Israel, stated that we looked to Egypt to honour this agreement, and urged both countries to work together to resolve current tensions and enhance regional stability.
	We continue to deliver our key messages on the importance of upholding Egypt-Israeli relations in discussions at official level with both our Egyptian and Israeli interlocutors.

Middle East: Armed Conflict

Michael McCann: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his Israeli counterpart on relations with Egypt following terrorist attacks in southern Israel.

Alistair Burt: I issued a statement on 18 August 2011 condemning the attacks in southern Israel earlier that day, calling them appalling and senseless acts of violence and offering sincere condolences to the family and friends of those injured and killed.
	We have reiterated these messages to Egyptian officials, and the Egyptians have reassured us that they take their responsibilities very seriously.
	In the Prime Minister's statement on 10 September 2011, he welcomed Egypt's agreement that it would uphold Egypt's international agreements including its peace treaty with Israel, stated that we looked to Egypt to honour this agreement, and urged both countries to work together to resolve current tensions and enhance regional stability.
	We continue to deliver our key messages on the importance of upholding Egypt-Israeli relations in discussions at official level with both our Egyptian and Israeli interlocutors.

Middle East: Reconciliation

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has had meetings with groups working to promote reconciliation in Israel and Palestine since May 2010.

Alistair Burt: Both my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and I have attended numerous meetings here in the UK, in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories with groups who are working to promote reconciliation and have an interest in resolving the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.

North Korea: Crimes against Humanity

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on the establishment of a UN Commission of Inquiry to investigate crimes against humanity in North Korea.

Jeremy Browne: The UK focuses its efforts on working with international partners to encourage North Korea to allow access to the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in North Korea. The UK also works with international partners to sponsor annual resolutions against North Korea in the UN General Assembly and the Human Rights Council. We are not against the idea of a UN Commission of Inquiry to investigate crimes against humanity in North Korea. However, it is highly unlikely that such an inquiry could be established through the UN Security Council (UNSC) as not all UNSC members would agree.

North Korea: Human Rights

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to raise violations of human rights by the Government of North Korea (a) in prison camps and (b) elsewhere.

Jeremy Browne: We use every opportunity to raise violations of human rights in prison camps and elsewhere with the North Korean Government, both through our engagement with the North Korean embassy in London and through our embassy in Pyongyang. In addition to this, we also asked North Korea to provide further information on a range of issues in the Human Rights Council (HRC) including freedom of expression, religious freedoms and the death penalty. Finally, we support UN and EU resolutions on North Korea on an annual basis to raise awareness and promote international action.

North Korea: Prisons

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the (a) size, (b) extent of use and (c) conditions of prison camps in North Korea.

Jeremy Browne: I recently met Shin Dong-Hyuk, a North Korean defector who spent the first 23 years of his life in a labour camp. His account and those of other defectors show that torture and beatings are still widely practised in the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea's (DPRK) prison camps. Most inmates endure hard labour, poor access to food, and lack of medical care. Some 150,000 to 200,000 political prisoners are reported to be serving terms in DPRK camps. A lack of transparency and independent verification mean that we are unable to assess the situation directly. This is why we regularly urge the North Korean regime to allow access to the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in North Korea to verity the situation independently.

South Sudan

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many officials of his Department are stationed in South Sudan.

Henry Bellingham: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 9 September 2011, Official Report, column 878W.

South Sudan

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next plans to visit South Sudan.

Henry Bellingham: For security and operational reasons we do not comment on or announce visits.

Stephen Crouch

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what dates Mr Stephen Crouch has visited his Department since April 2010.

David Lidington: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for North Durham (Mr Jones) on 8 November 2011, Official Report, column 157W.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Adam Werritty

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether (a) he, (b) any Ministers and (c) officials of his Department have met (i) Mr Michael Hintze, (ii) Mr Tony Buckingham, (iii) Mr Michael Davis, (iv) Mr Poju Zabludowicz, (v) Jon Moulton and (vi) Stephen Crouch; and where any such meetings took place.

Bob Neill: Details of Ministers’ and the permanent secretary’s meetings with external organisations are published on a quarterly basis and are available at:
	www.communities.gov.uk/corporate/transparencyingovernment/
	None of these meetings involved the individuals mentioned in the hon. Member’s question.
	Information in respect of other officials’ meetings is not held centrally, but I am not aware of any official meetings with these individuals.

Adam Werritty

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether (a) he, (b) officials of his Department and (c) special advisers in his Department have met Mr Adam Werritty on official business since May 2010; and how many such meetings took place (i) on his Department’s premises and (ii) elsewhere.

Bob Neill: I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the right hon. Member for Leeds Central (Hilary Benn) on 24 October 2011, Official Report, column 58W.
	Special advisers in this Department have had no such meetings with Mr Werritty.
	Records are not held centrally of all officials’ meetings, but I am not aware of any officials having met with Mr Werritty.

Bell Pottinger Group

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on what dates he has met representatives of (a) Bell Pottinger Group and (b) its subsidiaries; and what was discussed.

Bob Neill: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 24 October 2011, Official Report, column 60W.

Council Tax

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what methodology his Department used to cost the proposal to freeze council tax for 2012-13; and whether the funding for this proposal will come from his Department’s existing budget.

Bob Neill: The methodology used to cost the proposal to freeze council tax for 2012-13 assumed that every billing and major precepting authority in England would not increase its basic amount of council tax (the band D amount) in 2012-13 compared with 2011-12. For each such authority, a notional council tax requirement was calculated by multiplying the authority’s 2011-12 basic amount of council tax by an estimate of its 2012-13 tax base. For police authorities, and fire and rescue authorities, the grant to be made available was estimated to be 3% of the notional council tax requirement; and for other principal authorities, 2.5%. Slightly different percentages were used for the Greater London authority and the City of London to reflect the atypical proportion of their expenditure that is devoted to delivering police and/or fire services. The tax base for billing authorities in 2012-13 was estimated by reference to the three-year average growth in their tax bases from 2008-09 to 2011-12. The tax base for precepting authorities was estimated by aggregating the component billing authority tax base estimates.
	Actual grant payments will be determined on the basis of the tax bases eventually reported to the Department by billing authorities in March 2012. The Department’s delegated expenditure limit for local government in 2011-12 will be increased to reflect this commitment.

Consultants

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many full-time equivalent staff are employed on consultancy contracts in his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Neill: The following table sets out the number of full-time equivalent staff currently employed on consultancy contracts within the Department:
	
		
			 Contract title Start date End date Full-time employees 
			 Enhanced Audits of the European Regional Development Fund Programme 14 September 2011 31 March 2012 15.5 (till 31 December—post this date resource is dependent on project requirement). 
			 Providing technical support and performance management of Firelink on behalf of the Fire and Rescue Service and DCLG. 1 October 2008 31 March 2012 Currently 16.4. This will drop to 14.4 in the period January to March 2012. 
			 This data complies with definitions on consultancy laid down by Cabinet Office. 
		
	
	I refer the hon. Member to my answers of 12 October 2011, Official Report, columns 448-49W, on the need for Enhanced Audits of the European Regional Development Fund Programme.

Design Services

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what contracts his Department has awarded for design services since May 2010; and what information his Department holds on the location of such companies.

Bob Neill: The Department for Communities and Local Government ran one advertising campaign in 2010-11—Fire Kills—that aimed to encourage people to test their smoke alarm regularly in order to prevent fatalities and injuries from fire in the home. The contract for the creative work associated with this was awarded to agency RKCR/Y&R, located in London.

Freedom of Information Requests

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government in respect of how many responses to requests for information received by his Department under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 the reason of (a) commercially sensitive information, (b) information not held, (c) information too costly to provide and (d) vexatious or repeated requests has been given in response since January 2010.

Bob Neill: In the 18-month period from January 2010 to June 2011, the Department for Communities and Local Government refused (a) 33 requests on grounds that the information was commercially sensitive and disclosure would have been prejudicial to some party's commercial interests; (b) 173 requests where the information requested was not held; (c) 35 requests on grounds that locating and extracting the information would exceed the proportionate cost limit—including five requests where fees notices were issued but no payment was received; and (d) 24 requests that were deemed vexatious or repeated. Figures for the months since June 2011 have not been included in these totals since these figures have not yet been prepared for submitting to Ministry of Justice for publication in ‘Freedom of Information: Statistics of Implementation in Central Government’ for the third quarter of 2011.

Departmental Mobile Phones

Gavin Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many mobile telephones and BlackBerrys were provided to staff in his Department between June 2007 and May 2010; and what the total cost to the public purse was of (a) line rental, (b) insurance and (c) purchase of such telecommunications equipment.

Bob Neill: For the period 1 June 2007 to 1 May 2010 the Department spent £563,529 on mobile phones and BlackBerry devices (please note that this is the cost of all mobile devices including 39 3G cards that provide mobile internet access for nomadic laptop users). The total number of mobile phones and BlackBerry devices on issue to staff on 1 May 2010 was 735. Historical data detailing phones issued to staff in 2007 are not available.
	The Department does not pay for insurance and the expenditure above could be broken down into equipment cost and line rental only at disproportionate cost.
	Since the general election, my Department has taken steps to reduce spending in this area and improve value for money.

Procurement

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many contracts his Department has awarded directly to (a) small, (b) medium-sized and (c) large businesses in each month since May 2010; what the value was of such contracts; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Neill: This information on contract awards is not held centrally and could be answered only at disproportionate cost.
	However we are able to provide a breakdown of actual expenditure with small, medium and large business for the period requested which is set out in the following table:
	
		
			 £ 
			  (a) Small (b) Medium (c) Large 
			 May 2010 1,284,068 88,721 8,681,635 
			 June 2010 2,235,652 1,893,898 13,547,790 
			 July 2010 2,260,516 931,607 15,002,259 
			 August 2010 915,982 871,949 10,777,668 
			 September 2010 1,497,524 659,873 13,571,753 
			 October 2010 1,714,476 644,327 10,560,014 
			 November 2010 716,534 758,795 8,834,490 
			 December 2010 1,916,445 7,844 12,290,245 
			 January 2011 1,517,422 922,645 3,252,599 
			 February 2011 622,344 467,317 6,884,927 
			 March 2011 1,347,256 1,551,537 15,112,618 
			 April 2011 483,508 494,601 26,297,407 
			 May 2011 315,820 720,028 5,788,205 
			 June 2011 875,492 283,613 14,925,833 
			 July 2011 230,866 661,771 4,820,054 
			 August 2011 171,865 448,885 6,938,733 
			 September 2011 669,393 302,750 11,055,465 
			 Total 18,775,164 11,710,162 188,341,694 
		
	
	As part of the Government's wider agenda to open up opportunities to small and medium-sized enterprises, DCLG has published its ‘pipeline' of business, which will be updated on a quarterly basis, on the departmental website and has also placed guidance on the website to support these enterprises when bidding for business.

Procurement

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many contracts his Department has advertised on the Contracts Finder website in each month since May 2010; what the value was of such contracts; what proportion were awarded to (a) third sector organisations and (b) small businesses; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Neill: The following table provides a month by month breakdown of the contract opportunities and values published by DCLG on Contracts Finder (since it launched in January 2011) from February 2011 to October 2011. There is no present capability to highlight contract awards to third sector organisations on Contracts Finder.
	
		
			  Total number Small businesses Percentage proportion awarded to small businesses Total contract value (£) 
			 February 2011 8 1 13 1,012,462 
			 April 2011 6 0 0 226,765 
			 May 2011 3 0 0 329,079 
			 July 2011 7 0 0 624,399 
			 October 2011 1 1 100 161,575 
			 Total 25 2 8 2,354,280 
		
	
	As part of the Government's wider agenda to open up opportunities to small and medium sized enterprises, DCLG has published its ‘pipeline' of business, which will be updated on a quarterly basis, on the departmental website and has also placed guidance on the website to support these enterprises when bidding for business.

Voluntary Work

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what volunteering (a) he and (b) other Ministers in his Department have undertaken as part of the One Day Challenge; what the nature of the work undertaken was; on what dates it took place; and what the names were of the organisations assisted.

Bob Neill: Charitable giving is a personal matter for individuals, although it is encouraged by Government. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and his ministerial team, like all Government Ministers, have pledged to undertake a “One Day Challenge” with a charity or community group of their choice. This is a clear and public commitment by Ministers to give their time to help others. The pledge aims to inspire others to consider how they might be able to support their communities to benefit themselves, as well as their chosen organisations.
	A list of the charities and voluntary groups that Ministers are closely involved with can also be found in the Cabinet Office’s List of Ministers’ Interests at:
	http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/sites/default/files/resources/ministers-interests.pdf

Written Questions

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether draft answers to parliamentary questions prepared by officials in his Department are cleared by special advisers (a) before and (b) after the relevant Minister.

Bob Neill: Ministerial clearance is always the final stage before a parliamentary question is answered.

Fire Services

Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will place in the Library a copy of the Gateway Review final report on FireControl.

Bob Neill: A copy of the Office of Government Commerce—Gateway Review 3B Investment Decision report has been deposited in the Library of the House. As the project was not subject to the Gateway Review 4 Readiness for Service, this is the most recent Gateway Review report.

Housing

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many net additional dwellings were created in England in each year between 1990-91 and 2000-01 inclusive; and how many and what proportion of such dwellings were (a) net build completions, (b) net conversions, (c) net change of use, (d) net other gains and (e) demolitions in each such year.

Grant Shapps: Estimates as available are shown in the following table. A full breakdown for the period requested is not possible because the Department for Communities and Local Government's official statistics series on ‘net supply of housing' began in 2000-01.
	The estimates of net supply are derived from the differences between successive annual stock estimates. Some estimates for net conversions and demolitions are shown where available, based on local authority returns in some years. Estimates are not available for net change of use and net other gains and losses.
	
		
			  Net additional dwellings completed, England New build completions Net conversions Demolitions 
			  (000s) Number (000s) Percentage (1) (000s) Number (000s) Percentage (1) (000s) Number (000s) Percentage (1) e (000s) Number (000s) Percentage (1) 
			 1990-91 n/a(2) — 160 — n/a(2) — — — 
			 1991-92 165 100 155 94 12 7 — — 
			 1992-93 151 100 142 94 8 5 — — 
			 1993-94 152 100 148 97 8 5 — — 
			 1994-95 166 100 158 95 10 6 — — 
			 1995-96 163 100 155 95 9 6 — — 
			 1996-97 154 100 146 95 9 6 — — 
			 1997-98 156 100 150 96 3 2 14 -9 
			 1998-99 149 100 140 94 4 3 14 -10 
			 1999-2000 148 100 142 96 4 3 17 -12 
			 2000-01 132 100 133 101 3 2 20 -15 
			 (1) Percentages in the table do not sum to 100 because estimates are not available for net change of use and net other gains and losses. (2) Prior to 1991, dwelling stock estimates were compiled as at 31 December each year. From 1991 onwards this was changed to 31 March each year. Therefore, no meaningful figure for the change in dwelling stock between 1990 and 1991 can be provided. Sources: Net additional dwellings: data for 2000-01 were collected in the Housing Flows Reconciliation return from local authorities. Prior to this, estimates of net housing supply were calculated from the dwelling stock estimates in Live Table 104: “Dwelling stock by tenure, England”, available on the Department for Communities and Local Government website at the following link. http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingresearch/housingstatistics/housingstatisticsby/stockincludingvacants/livetables/ New build completions: “House Building statistics”, available on the Department for Communities and Local Government website at the following link. http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingresearch/housingstatistics/housingstatisticsby/housebuilding/

Housing: Construction

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many houses were built in Ashfield constituency between 2005 and 2011; and what proportion of such houses were affordable housing.

Andrew Stunell: holding answer 14 November 2011
	Statistics on house building are not available on a parliamentary constituency basis, but the following table shows the number of new homes built in Ashfield district council area in each year from 2005 to the second quarter of 2011, according to the Department for Communities and Local Government's House Building National Statistics. Ashfield has seen 2,390 new homes over this time period of which 380 units were in the affordable housing sector which equates to 16% of the total.
	
		
			  Private enterprise Housing association Local authority Total 
			 2005 270 70 0 340 
			 2006 250 20 0 270 
			 2007 440 40 0 490 
			 2008 330 40 0 370 
			 2009 250 120 0 370 
			 2010 300 90 0 390 
			 2011 Q1 and Q2 160 0 0 160 
			 Total 2,010 380 0 2,390 
			      
			 Tenure split (percentage) 84 16 0 100 
			 Source: New build completions from P2 monthly and quarterly returns submitted by local authorities and the National House-Building Council to DCLG. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10 units. 
		
	
	The Department for Communities and Local Government also produces an annual National Statistics series dedicated to the supply of affordable housing. This provides more detail on the types and providers of new affordable housing and includes acquisitions of existing dwellings as well as new build. Because of differences in data sources and timing these statistics can give different estimates of affordable new build from the House Building statistics above. These statistics are available on the Department for Communities and Local Government website at the following link.
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingresearch/housingstatistics/housingstatisticsby/affordablehousingsupply/

Local Government: Pensions

Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what economic impact assessment his Department has carried out on the effect of proposed changes to the Local Government Pension Scheme on Workington constituency.

Bob Neill: I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to the hon. Members for Gedling (Vernon Coaker) and for Stoke-on-Trent Central (Tristram Hunt), on 7 November 2011, Official Report, column 23W.

Local Government: Public Consultation

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent progress he has made on implementing the coalition agreement to give residents the power to instigate local referendums on any local issue.

Bob Neill: I refer my hon. Friend to the proceedings on the consideration of Lords Amendments to the Localism Bill at 7 November 2011, Official Report, columns 84-85.

MoveUK

Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the estimated gross cost was to the taxpayer of the collapse of the MoveUK housing exchange scheme that replaced the HOMES scheme; and what assessment he has made of the reasons for the failure of the MoveUK scheme.

Grant Shapps: The previous Government negotiated a confidential financial settlement with the MoveUK contractor in June 2007. In addition to this the Government paid £1.06 million for the development of the software and IT infrastructure for the failed service.
	MoveUK was a centrally prescribed service, funded at the tax payers' expense, which the previous Government designed and then failed to deliver. In the first two years of MoveUK, the contractor only achieved half the number of moves of its predecessors and had no clear strategy to improve this. In contrast, I have successfully launched HomeSwap Direct which will allow tenants wishing to move to see details of all possible swaps across the United Kingdom for the first time ever. This was achieved with no cost to tax payers through negotiation with existing mutual exchange service providers and builds on services which are already working effectively.

Organised Crime: Departmental Coordination

Meg Hillier: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which Minister in his Department is a member of the inter-ministerial group dealing with gang culture; and on what dates they have attended meetings of the group.

Bob Neill: holding answer 7 November 2011
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government attends the inter-ministerial group on gangs. The group has met on a number of occasions.

Parish Councils: Non-domestic Rates

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment his Department has made of the merits of extending to parish councils the exemption on business rates on properties for trusts; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Neill: There is no exemption from business rates for properties held on trust. A property occupied by charitable trustees only may receive 80% mandatory charity relief provided the property is used for charitable purposes. Local councils pay rates like any other public body and are not eligible for business rates reliefs.

Planning Permission

Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate his Department has made of the amount of land that is available with planning permission for (a) employment and (b) industrial development in each local authority area in (i) 2007-08, (ii) 2008-09, (iii) 2009-10, (iv) 2010-11 and (v) the current financial year.

Bob Neill: The Department has not estimated the amount of land that is available with planning permission for employment or industrial development. The Department collects summary statistics on planning applications but these do not include information on land areas.

Planning Permission

Steve Brine: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether updated local plans have primacy when determining planning applications.

Bob Neill: holding answer 10 November 2011
	Section 38(6) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 requires that planning applications be determined in accordance with the development plan for the area, unless other material considerations indicate otherwise.
	This applies irrespective of how recently the plan was updated.

Rates and Rating: Ealing

Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the cash value was of the (a) domestic rate and (b) non-domestic rate expressed as pence in the pound in the London borough of Ealing in each financial year from 1986-87 until (i) the abolition of domestic rates and (ii) the introduction of the national non-domestic rate.

Bob Neill: The information requested is not held centrally.

Smoke Alarms: Procurement

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many FireAngel ST-620 smoke alarms have been supplied through the FireBuy scheme to each Fire and Rescue Service (FRS); over what period those smoke alarms were procured; what the total cost has been to each FRS; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Neill: This information is not held centrally and could be supplied only at a disproportionate cost.
	FireBuy went into voluntary liquidation on 13 July 2011 as part of Government's review of arm’s length bodies. Its framework contracts, including smoke alarms, were formally novated to Wiltshire county council with the Consortium for Purchasing and Distribution Ltd managing these on Wiltshire's behalf.

Tenants: East of England

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many tenants of (a) Cross Keys Homes, (b) Accent Nene Housing, (c) Minster Housing and (d) Axiom Housing are in (i) full-time paid work, (ii) retired, (iii) not in paid work and (iv) in receipt of housing benefit; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Neill: holding answer 10 November 2011
	This information is not collected by the Department of Communities and Local Government or its executive body, the Homes and Communities Agency.

Voluntary Organisations: Finance

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the total amount of funding given by his Department to the voluntary sector was in each of the last 15 years.

Andrew Stunell: The Department's records are not able to identify payments made to the voluntary sector over this time period. A list of payments made under Section 70 of the Charities Act 2006 to charities and voluntary groups is published in the Department's annual report and resource accounts on a yearly basis.
	Annual reports and resource accounts for each year are published on the Department's website. Grant spending over £500 since 2008-09 is also published on the website as part of my Department's broader transparency agenda.

TREASURY

Bank Services: Sharia

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with financial institutions on the provision of Sharia compliant bank accounts, savings accounts and mortgages; and what estimate he has made of the take-up of such accounts and mortgages in the latest period for which figures are available.

Mark Hoban: Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of such meetings.
	The Treasury does not collect data on the take-up of Sharia compliant accounts.

Design Services

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what contracts his Department has awarded for design services since May 2010; and what information his Department holds on the location of such companies.

Chloe Smith: Since May 2010 HM Treasury has not awarded any contracts for design services.

Design Services

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his Department has spent on design in respect of (a) logos, (b) buildings, (c) advertising, (d) stationery and (e) campaigns in the last year for which figures are available.

Chloe Smith: During the last year HM Treasury has not incurred any spend for the design of logos, buildings, advertising, stationery or campaigns.

EU Grants and Loans

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will implement the provisions of the draft EU regulations relating to 2014-20 EU Structural Fund to ensure the inclusion of transition regions in the funding framework.

Mark Hoban: As set out in its response to the European Commission's Fifth report on Cohesion, the Government believe that regions graduating from convergence support should benefit from enhanced funding via a transitional arrangement.

Green Economy Council

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many meetings of the Green Economy Council he has attended.

Chloe Smith: The Green Economy Council comprises Ministers from the Department for Business, Innovation for Skills, the Department of Energy and Climate Change and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and business representatives from a cross-section of industries and sectors. The full membership list is available online at:
	http://nds.coi.gov.uk/content/detail.aspx?NewsAreald=2&ReleaseID=418063&SubjectId=2

Income Tax: Tax Rates and Bands

Owen Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many tax-planning schemes were disclosed to HM Revenue and Customs in the year preceding the announcement of the 50 per cent. rate of income tax on 22 April 2009; and how many have been disclosed since that announcement.

David Gauke: 138 direct tax avoidance schemes were disclosed to HMRC from 22( )April 2008 to 21 April 2009 under the Disclosure of Tax Avoidance Schemes (DOTAS) regime. From 22 April 2009 to date, 354 direct tax avoidance schemes have been disclosed.
	Disclosed direct tax avoidance schemes can include arrangements which are not aimed at income tax avoidance. For example, schemes may aim to avoid capital gains tax, national insurance contributions or corporation tax. The disclosure statistics are published on the HMRC website at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/avoidance/statsoct11.xls

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to answer the letter from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton of 4 October 2011 regarding Mr M. Cowen.

Chloe Smith: The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury, my noble Friend Lord Sassoon, replied to the right hon. Gentleman on 9 November 2011.

Public Sector: Part-time Employment

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the proportion of public sector workers who work part time; and what proportion of such workers are women.

Nick Hurd: holding answer 10 November 2011
	I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated November 2011
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what estimate has made of the proportion of public sector workers who work part-time; and what proportion of such workers are women. (79793)
	The latest period for which figures are available is 2010. ONS estimates that 38 per cent of public sector employees work part-time and that 85 per cent of these employees are women.

Public Sector: Pay

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many public sector workers who worked (a) part-time and (b) full-time received a salary of less than £15,000 per annum in the latest period for which figures are available; and how many part-time public sector workers earned less than £15,000 per annum but received a full-time equivalent salary of greater than £15,000.

Nick Hurd: holding answer 10 November 2011
	I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated November 2011
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many public sector workers who worked (a) part-time and (b) full-time received a salary of less than £15,000 per annum in the latest period for which figures are available; and how many part-time public sector workers earned less than £15,000 per annum and received a full-time equivalent salary of greater than £15,000. (79794)
	Annual levels of earnings are estimated from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), and are provided for all employees on adult rates of pay, who have been in the same job for more than a year. ASHE methodology cannot be used to provide estimates of the numbers of employees whose earnings is less than a specific amount, but can be used to provide estimates of percentage of employees in that category.
	The ASHE, carried out in April each year, is the most comprehensive source of earnings information in the United Kingdom. It is a sample of all employees who are members of pay-as-you-earn (PAYE) schemes.
	In 2010, the latest period for which figures are available, 70 per cent of part-time and 7 percent of full-time public sector employees earned less than £15,000 per annum. Of the part-time public sector employees who earned less than £15,000 per annum, ONS estimates that 60 per cent received a full-time equivalent salary greater than £15,000. Full-time equivalent salaries were derived from annual pay by pro-rating the part-time employees' paid hours worked to the median estimate of paid hours worked by full-time employees in the public sector.

Tax Allowances: Environment Protection

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many businesses have claimed enhanced capital allowances for (a) energy-saving plant and machinery, (b) water conservation plant and machinery and (c) low carbon dioxide emission cars in each year since 2001.

Chloe Smith: Corporation tax returns identify whether a business has claimed enhanced capital allowances (ECA's) but do not distinguish between ECAs for energy-saving plant and machinery, water conservation plant and machinery and low carbon dioxide emission cars.
	The following table gives the total number of companies estimated to have claimed ECAs on tax returns in each year from 2001 to 2009:
	
		
			  Total number of companies 
			 2001 30 
			 2002 500 
			 2003 1,400 
			 2004 1,700 
			 2005 1,700 
			 2006 1,000 
			 2007 1,200 
			 2008 1,900 
			 2009 3,000 
		
	
	We are unable to provide the same data for unincorporated businesses as income tax returns have not required this information to be provided consistently since 2001.

Teachers: Pensions

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if his Department will produce a valuation of the Teachers' Pension Scheme.

Nick Gibb: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government put valuations of the public service pension schemes on hold while the consultation on the discount rate used to calculate contribution rates was taking place. The outcome of the consultation was announced in Budget 2011, but valuations remain on hold. Valuations are dependent on assumptions about the value of future costs, design of benefits and other factors. Many of these are currently under review as part of the Government's proposed reforms of the public sector pension schemes. A decision on when to undertake the next valuation of the Teachers' Pension Scheme will be taken in due course.

VAT: Channel Islands

John Whittingdale: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to maintain low value consignment relief for genuinely indigenous businesses in the Channel Islands; and if he will make a statement.

David Gauke: I see no case for providing businesses based in the Channel Islands with a tax advantage compared to their UK-based competitors, particularly given the ease of access to the UK market provided by HMRC's import VAT pre-payment scheme for Channel Island-based companies.

VAT: Imports

Owen Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent estimate his Department has made of the cost of import relief for gifts (non-commercial consignments) sent from outside the EU.

David Gauke: No such estimate of the cost of the relief on gifts sent between private individuals has been made.

VAT: Imports

Owen Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate his Department has made of the increase in receipts to the Exchequer if his planned changes to low value consignment relief included all non-EU jurisdictions.

David Gauke: It was recently announced that effective from April 2012 the LVCR will be removed entirely from all imports from the Channel Islands. The estimate of the increase in receipts to the Exchequer from this measure will be announced in the autumn statement 2011. However, if the LVCR were to be removed from all non-EU jurisdictions as well, then the further increase from all non-EU jurisdictions would be of the order of £15 million.

VAT: Tax Rates and Bands

Owen Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will assess the effect of the recent increase in VAT on (a) household spending, (b) levels of household disposable income and (c) consumer confidence.

David Gauke: Sustainable public finances are essential for consumer confidence.
	Decisive action taken by the Government in the comprehensive spending review and June Budget, including the increase in VAT, put the public finances and Government spending on a sustainable footing. This has prevented the turmoil seen in other countries' sovereign debt markets spreading to the UK and undermining confidence and the recovery in the private sector.

WALES

Adam Werritty

Peter Hain: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether (a) she, (b) her Ministers and (c) officials in her Department have met (i) Mr Michael Hintze, (ii) Mr Tony Buckingham, (iii) Mr Michael Davis, (iv) Mr Poju Zabludowicz, (v) Mr Jon Moulton and (vi) Mr Stephen Crouch; and where any such meetings took place.

David Jones: I refer the right hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave on 8 November 2011, Official Report, column 165W, to the hon. Member for North Durham (Mr Jones).

Anti-Semitism

Peter Hain: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps her Department has taken to combat anti-Semitism since July 2010; and if she will make a statement.

David Jones: The Government are committed to confronting anti-Semitism wherever it is found. Policy on tackling anti-Semitism across the UK is co-ordinated by the Department for Communities and Local Government through the cross-Government working group on anti-Semitism. This group meets on a quarterly basis and includes representatives from the Community Security Trust, the Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Jewish Leadership Council.
	The Government's approach to tackling anti-Semitism across the United Kingdom can be found in the “Three Years on Progress Report” which is available in the Library and at this link:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/communities/antisemitismresponse
	The Equality Act 2010 also demonstrates the Government's commitment to promotion of racial and religious equality across Wales and Great Britain. The Welsh Government also have responsibility for some aspects of community cohesion in Wales and the Government are working closely with the Welsh Government to ensure progress in these areas is consistent across the UK.

Bell Pottinger Group

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether (a) Ministers, (b) officials and (c) political advisers in her Department have met representatives of (i) Bell Pottinger Group or (ii) each of its subsidiaries in the last five years; on what dates any such meetings took place; and what was discussed.

David Jones: Since May 2010, the Wales Office publishes information on ministerial meetings with external organisations and hospitality received on a quarterly basis.
	We do not hold centrally records of engagements as requested by the hon. Gentleman, and the information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Communication

Peter Hain: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment she has made of the communications needs of her Department since May 2010.

David Jones: Assessment of the skills, focus and requirements of the Wales Office is an ongoing process across all aspects of the Department's responsibilities.
	In terms of communications, this has led to the greater focus on social media, targeted communications with interested groups, events and improving media monitoring, as well as carrying out existing press office duties.

Creative Industries

Peter Hain: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps she is taking to increase access to finance by small and medium-sized enterprises in the creative industries in Wales.

David Jones: The Government recognise that to support growth in the private sector, including in the creative industries, a flow of credit must be available to viable SMEs.
	In February 2011, the Government reached an agreement with five of the UK's biggest banks that secured £190 billion of new business lending and will increase lending to SMEs across the sectors to £76 billion, a 15% increase on the amount lent in 2010. £56.1 billion of this has been lent to SMEs in the first three quarters of 2011.

Departmental Buildings

Peter Hain: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what (a) building and (b) refurbishment projects her Department has undertaken since May 2010; and what the cost of each such project has been.

David Jones: The information requested is as follows:
	(a) There have been no building projects undertaken.
	(b) I refer the right hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave on 7 July 2011, Official Report, column 1308W. An additional project was started over the summer recess to repair and replace damaged and worn bathroom and kitchen fittings in the Department's London building, to address a number of health and safety issues, and to make good other damage. This project is not completed and so the final cost is not yet available.

Official Hospitality

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much her Department spent on hospitality for events hosted by each Minister in her Department in each of the last 12 months.

David Jones: In the financial year 2010-11 the Wales Office spent £44.64 in December 2010 and £936 in March 2011 on events hosted by the Secretary of State for Wales, my right hon. Friend the Member for Chesham and Amersham (Mrs Gillan).

Ministerial Photographs

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much her Department has spent on ministerial (a) photoshoots and (b) videos since May 2010.

David Jones: Nothing.

Ministerial Meetings

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on how many occasions a request for a meeting by an hon. Member of each political party was refused by (a) a Minister in her Department directly and (b) her Department on behalf of a Minister in November 2010.

David Jones: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given on 12 July 2011, Official Report, column 221W.

Security Vetting

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people were in possession of a security pass for her main Departmental headquarters, including multi-site headquarters and not including staff or contractors, in each month since May 2010.

David Jones: The Wales Office issues security passes to a small number of people with a business need for regular access to the Department's main building, including hon. Members involved with parliamentary business for the Department, and some members of support staff in Ministers' Commons offices.
	In October 2011, there were four such passholders. The information is not held for previous months and can be calculated only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Training

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much her Department has spent on training for Ministers since May 2010; and what the purpose was of such training.

David Jones: None.

Farmers

Peter Hain: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many 
	(1)  meetings she has had with (a) the CBI and (b) the TUC since her appointment;
	(2)  times she has met representatives of (a) the Countryside Alliance, (b) the National Farmers Union, (c) the Farmers' Union of Wales and (d) other countryside groups since May 2010.

David Jones: Since May 2010, the Wales Office has published meetings with external organisations on its website on a quarterly basis.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Peter Hain: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions she has had with Ministers in the Department for Transport on High Speed 2.

David Jones: In line with the Ministerial Code, I am the Wales Office Minister handling all matters relating to High Speed 2.
	I have regular discussions with a range of interested parties, including Ministers in the Department for Transport, on issues that affect Wales, including rail infrastructure.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Peter Hain: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Transport on the economic implications of the HS2 line for Wales.

David Jones: I have regular discussions with a range of interested parties, including Ministers in the Department for Transport, on issues that affect Wales, including rail infrastructure.
	The Government are currently undertaking analysis of the responses received from the recent consultation on a new national high-speed rail network. This is part of a wider programme of modernisation of the rail network, including electrification of the Great Western main line to Cardiff. The consultation considered a range of issues including potential economic implications for Wales.

Industry: Manpower

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many jobs have been (a) created and (b) lost in each industrial sector in Wales since May 2010.

David Jones: Workforce jobs for industries in Wales for the period between quarter 2 2010 to quarter 2 2011 are outlined in the following table.
	
		
			 JOBS04 Workforce Jobs by region and Industry 
			  Date by yearly quarter 
			 Industry 2010 Q2 2010 Q3 2010 Q4 2011 Q1 2011 Q2 
			 Agriculture, forestry and fishing 28,000 34,000 35,000 29,000 28,000 
			 Mining and quarrying 2,000 2,000 1,000 2,000 1,000 
			 Manufacturing 135,000 138,000 143,000 156,000 150,000 
			 Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply 7,000 7,000 7,000 7,000 7,000 
			 Water supply, sewerage, waste and remediation activities 9,000 7,000 8,000 8,000 9,000 
			 Construction 98,000 101,000 101,000 98,000 102,000 
		
	
	
		
			 Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles 232,000 230,000 219,000 211,000 202,000 
			 Transport and storage 45,000 46,000 54,000 64,000 63,000 
			 Accommodation and food service activities 107,000 114,000 115,000 78,000 78,000 
			 Information and communication 21,000 21,000 22,000 25,000 26,000 
			 Financial and insurance activities 26,000 28,000 30,000 28,000 26,000 
			 Real estate activities 12,000 14,000 15,000 15,000 16,000 
			 Professional scientific and technical activities 61,000 51,000 42,000 47,000 43,000 
			 Administrative and support service activities 85,000 84,000 77,000 81,000 83,000 
			 Public admin and defence; compulsory social security 92,000 91,000 87,000 88,000 87,000 
			 Education 139,000 139,000 141,000 140,000 138,000 
			 Human health and social work activities 181,000 186,000 183,000 181,000 223,000 
			 Arts, entertainment and recreation 36,000 33,000 37,000 37,000 39,000 
			 Other service activities 35,000 32,000 40,000 39,000 31,000 
			 Total Industries 1,352,000 1,359,000 1,357,000 1,333,000 1,353,000 
			 Source: ONS: JOBS04 Workforce Jobs by Region and Industry September 2011

Third Sector

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the name is of each charity and voluntary organisation Ministers in her Department have visited since May 2010.

David Jones: The Secretary of State for Wales, my right hon. Friend the Member for Chesham and Amersham (Mrs Gillan), and I frequently visit a variety of charitable and voluntary organisations. Meetings with such organisations are listed on the Wales Office's website.

Youth Parliament

David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions she has had with ministerial colleagues in the Department for Education on establishing Youth Parliament members for constituencies in Wales.

David Jones: We recognise the importance of allowing young people to represent the views of their peers and to contribute to Government policies that affect them.
	The Secretary of State for Wales, my right hon. Friend the Member for Chesham and Amersham (Mrs Gillan), is due to discuss Welsh representation and other issues with the UK Youth Parliament in the weeks to come.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Children: Day Care

Bob Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to assist middle income families with the costs of child care.

Maria Miller: Low and middle income families who qualify for universal credit will have access to support with child care costs if the lone parent or both members of the couple are working.
	Families will be able to recover 70% of monthly child care costs up to £760 for one child or £1,300 for two or more children (therefore total help available is £532 and £910). This is equivalent to the current arrangements in tax credits of 70% of child care costs up to £175 for one child and £300 for two or more children per week.

Crisis Loans

Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many Social Fund crisis loans were paid in each Jobcentre Plus budget area in each region in each of the last 12 months.

Steve Webb: The information is as follows:
	
		
			   2010-11 
			 Region Budget a rea November December January February March 
			 East Midlands East Midlands North 5,522 4,753 6,610 5,894 5,598 
			  South East Midlands 7,298 6,210 8,019 6,823 6,933 
			        
			 East of England Essex 5,231 4,604 5,408 4,960 5,389 
			  Norwich BDC 10,373 8,848 10,083 10,997 10,363 
			        
			 London Central and East London 5,207 4,489 5,772 5,032 5,154 
			  London South 8,157 7,000 9,468 8,572 8,862 
			  North and North East London 4,730 4.178 5,319 4,956 4,755 
		
	
	
		
			  West London 4,052 3,596 4,714 4,269 4,342 
			        
			 North East Northumbria 4,240 4,183 4,981 4,651 5,409 
			  South Tyne and Wear Valley 5,342 4,713 5,575 6.345 6.198 
			  Tees Valley 4,420 4,064 4,455 5,000 4,714 
			        
			 North West Chorlton BDC 24,331 20,195 26,927 24,068 25,034 
			  Greater Liverpool and Cheshire 13,695 11,520 15,342 13,726 14,402 
			        
			 Scotland Inverness BDC 9,151 8,118 11,575 8,330 8,880 
			  Springburn BDC 19,358 19,016 24,317 19,801 20,676 
			        
			 South East SE BOBS 6,608 6,115 8,708 8,506 8,431 
			  SE HIKYS 14,110 14,029 17,862 16,801 17,088 
			        
			 South West South West Central 12,649 10,334 13,640 14,722 14,341 
			        
			 Wales Llanelli BDC 3,736 3,283 3,682 4,052 3,731 
			  South East Wales 8,119 6,730 8,057 8,226 8,192 
			        
			 West Midlands West Midlands SF 17,426 15,392 22,963 19,541 20,854 
			        
			 Yorkshire and Humberside Bradford 5,359 4,981 6,410 6,107 5,931 
			  Sheffield 13,039 11,097 16,237 15,115 14,262 
			        
			 Total  212,153 187,448 246,124 226,494 229,539 
		
	
	
		
			   2011-12 
			 Region Budget  a rea April May June July August September October 
			 East Midlands East Midlands North 4,059 4,936 4,883 4,983 5,095 4,943 4,435 
			  South East Midlands 5,544 6,312 6,364 5,718 5,942 5,917 5,071 
			          
			 East of England Essex 3,690 4,382 4,250 3,994 3,759 3,827 3,300 
			  Norwich BDC 7,742 8,872 8,859 8,057 7,876 8,061 7,127 
			          
			 London Central and East London 3,727 4,508 4,178 4,157 3,930 4,055 3,315 
			  London South 6,495 7,404 6,921 6,778 6,482 6,985 6,075 
			  North and North East London 3,519 4,323 4,225 4,102 3,974 3,952 3,539 
			  West London 3,219 3,599 3.408 3,492 3,352 3,418 2,990 
			          
			 North East Northumbria 3,648 3,985 3,919 4,321 3,978 3,861 3,752 
			  South Tyne and Wear Valley 4,157 4,709 4,437 4,645 4,310 4,250 3,817 
			  Tees Valley 3,229 3,284 3,137 3,258 3,221 3,351 2,898 
			          
			 North West Chorlton BDC 18,559 24,199 21,008 19,638 19,461 19,062 16,578 
			  Greater Liverpool and Cheshire 10,345 11,905 11,285 10,948 10,992 11,405 9,807 
			          
			 Scotland Inverness BDC 6,400 8,076 8,594 7,154 7,179 6,966 6,532 
			  Springburn BDC 14,779 17,486 17,548 15.913 16,250 15,983 14,024 
			          
			 South East SE BOBS 5,424 6,310 6,190 5,305 6,258 6,813 6,021 
			  SE HIKYS 11,950 13,765 12,934 11,578 12,641 13,580 12,157 
		
	
	
		
			 South West South West Central 10,058 12,337 11,254 10,727 11,096 10,483 9,434 
			          
			 Wales Llanelli BDC 2,780 3,019 2,985 2,940 3,046 3,134 2,664 
			  South East Wales 6,061 6,548 6,422 6.318 6,497 6,767 5,757 
			          
			 West Midlands West Midlands SF 14,894 17,222 16,780 16,716 16,520 16,836 15,031 
			          
			 Yorkshire and Humberside Bradford 4,432 5,232 5,269 4,834 5,081 5,206 4,644 
			  Sheffield 10,061 11,649 11,389 11,032 11,349 11,630 10,324 
			          
			 Total  164,772 194,062 186,239 176,608 178,289 180,485 159,292 
			 Notes: 1. Figures are based on the number of initial awards. 2. Figures are from November 2010-11 to October 2011-12. 3. BDC—Benefit Delivery Centre. 4. BOBS—Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Surrey. 5. HIKYS—Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent and Sussex.

Crisis Loans

Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many Social Fund crisis loans were (a) granted and (b) refused to (i) individuals registered as disabled, (ii) individuals over the pension age and (iii) lone parent households in each of the last 12 months.

Steve Webb: Please see the following tables.
	
		
			 Crisis loan awards by client over last 12 months 
			   Disabled Pensioner Lone Parent 
			 2010 November 36,800 900 21,800 
			  December 32,600 700 18,100 
			      
			 2011 January 39,800 1,000 24,300 
			  February 37,600 1,000 22,300 
			  March 40,000 1,100 24,000 
			  April 28,600 600 15,500 
			  May 32,100 600 17,900 
			  June 29,600 500 18,000 
			  July 27,300 500 17,100 
			  August 27,700 500 18,700 
			  September 27,700 500 18,800 
			  October 25,000 400 14,900 
		
	
	
		
			 Crisis loan refusals by client of last 12 months 
			   Disabled Pensioner Lone Parent 
			 2010 November 9,100 600 7,500 
			  December 7,500 300 5,700 
			      
			 2011 January 8,700 500 6,500 
			  February 8,500 500 6,700 
			  March 10,200 600 8,000 
			  April 6,700 400 5,100 
			  May 7,000 300 4,700 
			  June 6,500 200 4,500 
			  July 6,000 200 4,100 
			  August 5,800 100 3,900 
			  September 5,500 100 3,700 
			  October 4,800 100 3,100 
			 Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 100. 2. Applications represent applications processed rather than applications received. 3. Figures are for applications received, not for the number of people who made an application, and for initial awards made, not the number of people who received an initial award. (Some people made more than one application or received more than one initial award.) 4. The information provided is Management Information. Our preference is to answer all parliamentary questions using Official/National Statistics but in this case we only have Management Information available. It is not quality assured to the same extent as Official/National statistics and there are some issues with the data. For example, they do not include applications which were processed clerically and have not yet been entered on to the Social Fund Computer System.

Crisis Loans

Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many applications for a (a) second, (b) third and (c) fourth or more crisis loan were (i) granted and (ii) declined in the last 12-month period for which figures are available.

Steve Webb: The information requested is provided in the following table:
	
		
			 Multiple applications awarded and declined in 2010-11 
			 Number Refused Awards Total 
			 1 258,900 1,021,800 1,280,700 
			 2 129,700 549,700 679,400 
			 3 81,000 336,400 417,400 
			 4+ 198,100 717,300 915,400 
			 Notes: 1. Figures are derived from scans data and therefore differ to those published in the Secretary of State's annual report on the social fund figures based on 2010-11 data. 2. Awarded figures are based on an initial award. 3. Figures rounded to the nearest 10. 4. Figures may not sum due to rounding. 5. The information provided is Management Information. Our preference is to answer all parliamentary questions using Official/National Statistics but in this case we only have Management Information available. It is not quality assured to the same extent as Official/National statistics and there are some issues with the data. For example, they do not include applications which were processed clerically and have not yet been entered on to the Social Fund computer system. 6. Figures are for applications received, not for the number of people who made an application, and for initial awards made, not the number of people who received an initial award. (Some people made more than one application or received more than one initial award.) Source: Scan of Social Fund Computer System

Crisis Loans

Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average time was to repay a Social Fund crisis loan in the latest period for which figures are available.

Steve Webb: Using data up until March 2011, the average time to repay a Social Fund crisis loan is 10 weeks.

Crisis Loans

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether the Government continue to provide benefits to meet the interest payments on a loan which had been taken out by a person now on benefits when an endowment policy accompanying a mortgage matures but does not provide sufficient funds to pay off the balance of that mortgage.

Steve Webb: This is a complex area, and each case has to be considered on its own merits.
	A claimant receiving an income-related benefit may be entitled to support for mortgage interest towards the interest on a mortgage. Where an endowment mortgage matures and leaves a shortfall on the capital outstanding on the mortgage, the claimant may choose to make new arrangements to repay the existing debt.
	Loans which are taken out while the claimant is receiving benefit do not normally qualify for housing costs assistance. But, depending on the particular facts of the individual case, there are provisions in Regulations which allow for continued entitlement to support for mortgage interest payment where:
	A new loan is a qualifying ‘home purchase loan’ under the relevant legislation; and
	the new loan is being taken out to repay a previous qualifying loan; and
	the new loan does not exceed the old loan.
	The amount payable will be limited to the same capital ceiling as was met under the original qualifying loan, and will be determined by applying the standard interest rate to the eligible capital on the new loan. No assistance is available towards capital repayments under any mortgage.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Liam Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will place a copy of his Department's efficiency savings plan in the Library.

Chris Grayling: The Department's key challenges for the April 2011 to March 2012 period were set out in its 2011-12 Delivery Plan published on 7 April 2011. Copies of the plan were placed in the House of Commons and House of Lords Libraries.
	Further detail on how the Department plans to deliver its priorities more efficiently will be included in its Delivery Plan for the period April 2012 to March 2013. Copies of this issue will also be placed in the House Libraries.

Disability Living Allowance

Fiona O'Donnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the potential effect of changes to the Motability Finance rules removing the four week discretionary extension while disability living allowance claims are awaiting a decision.

Maria Miller: Eligibility for the Motability scheme is dependant on receipt of the higher rate mobility component of disability living allowance or war pensioners mobility supplement. When payment of these benefits cease it is Motability’s policy to recover their vehicles. Motability advised that in the challenging economic climate it did not believe that the cost of supporting discretionary extensions for those people who are appealing a disability living allowance decision should be borne by other scheme customers.
	Further questions about the recent changes to the scheme should be directed to Motability and can be sent to: Declan O'Mahony, Director, Motability, Warwick House, Roydon Road, Harlow, Essex CM19 5PX.

Disability: Driving

Anne McGuire: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what discussions he has had with Motability on ensuring that a disabled person's personal assistant, who does not live within five miles of the disabled person, and who drives the disabled person's adapted car, can be insured on a Motability car;
	(2)  what discussions he has had with Motability to ensure that (a) grandparents and (b) other family members with a significant caring role, who do not live within five miles of the disabled person, will still be able to be an insured person on a Motability adapted car;
	(3)  what arrangements he will make to enable Motability to consider leaving an adapted car with a disabled person who is awaiting the outcome of a disability living allowance appeal; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  what discussions he has had with Motability to ensure that when a child lives in a residential school more than five miles from their home, they will still have access to a Motability adapted car; and how any assessment of the circumstances of such individuals will be made;
	(5)  what discussions he has had with Motability to ensure that parents of a disabled child who have separated and live more than five miles apart can both be named as insured drivers on any Motability adapted car.

Maria Miller: While I regularly meet and correspond with Motability, Motability is an independent charity and is wholly responsible for the administration of the Motability scheme.
	DLA higher rate mobility component is awarded to recognise the significant additional costs a disabled individual incurs and to assist with meeting those costs. It is for the individual in receipt of DLA to decide whether their personal mobility needs are best met by retaining the cash benefit from the Government or to use that money to secure a vehicle through Motability.
	Questions relating to the changes in the administration of the scheme recently announced by Motability should be directed to Motability and can be sent to: Declan O'Mahony, Director, Motability, Warwick House, Roydon Road, Harlow, Essex CM19 5PX.

Employment Schemes: Voluntary Organisations

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department will offer support to voluntary sector groups involved in delivering the Work programme who have not yet received any referrals.

Chris Grayling: Referrals to voluntary sector groups are made by Work programme providers and are a commercial matter for the parties involved. The Department cannot intervene in the business relationships between Work programme providers and their sub-contractors, but it is working with Jobcentre Plus and providers to ensure that claimants who would benefit from the support of voluntary sector organisations are being referred appropriately to the programme.
	A total of 699 supply chain places are occupied by voluntary and community sector organisations. This represents a total of 423 different voluntary and community sector organisations in tier 1 and 2.

Employment Schemes: Voluntary Organisations

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the written statement of 10 June 2011, Official Report, columns 50-52WS, on Work programme launch, how many voluntary sector providers were (a) prime providers, (b) tier 1 providers and (c) tier 2 providers.

Chris Grayling: There are two Work programme prime providers from the voluntary sector; both have been delivering since the launch. Supply chains were not finalised on the launch date, but a stocktake undertaken on 12 August 2011 shows 108 voluntary sector providers in tier 1 and 315 in tier 2. Some organisations may be engaged in both tiers and some organisations have more than one contract with one or more prime providers. Consequently, the 423 tier 1 and tier 2 organisations between them had 699 subcontracts.

Employment Schemes: Voluntary Organisations

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many voluntary sector providers were involved in delivering the Work programme on the most recent date for which figures are available; and how many of these were (a) prime providers, (b) tier 1 providers and (c) tier 2 providers;
	(2)  what the date was of his Department's most recent stocktake of providers to the Work programme.

Chris Grayling: The Department's most recent stocktake of providers involved in the Work programme took place on 12 August 2011.
	The stocktake identified that the number of voluntary and community based organisations involved in delivering the Work programme was:
	(a) two prime providers;
	(b) 108 tier 1 providers; and
	(c) 315 tier 2 providers.

Funeral Payments

Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many funeral payments were paid in each Jobcentre Plus budget area in each region in each of the last 12 months.

Steve Webb: The information is shown in the following tables.
	
		
			   2010-11 2011-12 
			 Region Budget area November December January February March April May 
			 East Midlands East Midlands North 170 70 100 140 120 90 110 
			  South East Midlands 140 90 110 150 140 100 110 
			          
			 East of England Essex 80 60 90 80 90 60 80 
			  Norwich BDC 220 130 140 200 170 120 130 
			          
			 London Central and East London 100 40 90 80 70 50 70 
			  London South 180 80 120 140 140 60 110 
			  North and North East London 90 50 60 70 110 40 70 
			  West London 70 50 50 50 60 60 40 
			          
			 North East Northumbria 70 50 60 70 80 60 90 
			  South Tyne and Wear Valley 70 70 110 80 110 50 140 
			  Tees Valley 60 40 50 60 80 50 70 
			          
			 North West Chorlton BDC 320 230 360 370 340 310 300 
			  Greater Liverpool and Cheshire 330 120 250 230 310 190 210 
			          
			 Scotland Inverness BDC 140 110 130 150 150 110 120 
			  Springburn BDC 400 240 350 370 360 250 280 
			          
		
	
	
		
			 South East SE BOBS 100 40 80 100 80 50 70 
			  SE HIKYS 210 100 190 290 180 170 160 
			          
			 South West South West Central 130 110 130 250 170 150 200 
			          
			 Wales Llanelli BDC 80 50 100 90 120 60 90 
			  South East Wales 180 110 170 180 240 100 170 
			          
			 West Midlands West Midlands SF 420 350 410 370 420 250 320 
			          
			 Yorkshire and Humberside Bradford 110 60 90 120 80 50 100 
			  Sheffield 310 160 240 290 250 180 220 
			 Total  3,990 2,410 3,480 3,910 3,860 2,600 3,250 
		
	
	
		
			   2011-12  
			 Region Budget area June July August September October Total 
			 East Midlands East Midlands North 150 90 80 110 80 4,100 
			  South East Midlands 170 80 100 100 110 1,550 
			         
			 East of England Essex 70 80 70 80 90 1,490 
			  Norwich BDC 200 120 130 150 120 2,470 
			         
			 London Central and East London 80 70 80 70 70 1,370 
			  London South 170 130 130 150 110 2,310 
			  North and North East London 70 70 60 60 60 1,240 
			  West London 70 60 50 60 60 1,090 
			         
			 North East Northumbria 80 80 70 80 50 1,320 
			  South Tyne and Wear Valley 110 100 70 100 30 1,590 
			  Tees Valley 60 60 50 60 40 1,050 
			         
			 North West Chorlton BDC 360 260 280 270 340 5,780 
			  Greater Liverpool and Cheshire 250 140 170 180 190 3,800 
			         
			 Scotland Inverness BDC 130 110 110 120 110 2,310 
			  Springburn BDC 290 290 310 360 240 5,650 
			         
			 South East SE BOBS 60 110 60 80 80 1,400 
			  SE HIKYS 150 230 190 160 160 3,390 
			         
			 South West South West Central 210 240 170 180 150 3,100 
			         
			 Wales Llanelli BDC 80 80 60 80 40 1,370 
			  South East Wales 170 130 130 140 100 2,620 
			         
			 West Midlands West Midlands SF 340 360 280 350 290 6,240 
			         
			 Yorkshire and Humberside Bradford 120 60 80 100 60 1,270 
			  Sheffield 330 200 180 240 180 3,340 
		
	
	
		
			 Total  3,730 3.160 2,900 3,260 2,750 59,830 
			 Notes: 1. Figures are based on the number of initial awards. 2. Figures are from November 2010-11 to October 2011-12 3. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 4. Figures may not sum due to rounding. 5. BDC = Benefit Delivery Centre. 6. BOBS = Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Surrey. 7. HIKYS = Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent and Sussex.

Funeral Payments

Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many defaults there were on the repayment of funeral payments from the deceased’s estate in each of the last 12 months.

Steve Webb: Funeral payments are not recoverable except from the estate of the deceased. A recovery schedule is not required for repayment and therefore there is nothing to default on. Funeral payments are automatically written off at the time they are made, unless there appears to be an estate to recover from, in which case follow-up action is taken to attempt to recover the payment made. The Department has first call on the deceased’s estate.
	In 2010-11, £42 million was written off as there was no estate to recover from and £0.3 million was recovered during the year.

Housing Benefit

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of claimants in receipt of housing benefit who are living in a property with an estimated market value of (a) £250,000 to £499,999, (b) £500,000 to £749,999, (c) £750,000 to £999,999, (d) £1 million to £1,499,999 and (e) in excess of £1.5 million.

Steve Webb: Data on market values of properties occupied by housing benefit claimants are not available. As the requested information is not necessary for calculating housing benefit award, it is not collected by local authorities.

Housing Benefit: Rural Areas

Therese Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the effects of his proposed changes to housing benefit on people aged between 25 and 35 years living in sparsely populated rural areas.

Steve Webb: The information requested is not available. The equality impact assessment of the increase to the shared accommodation rate age threshold, available on the DWP website at
	http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/eia-hb-shared-accommodation-age-threshold.pdf
	contains estimates of the impacts of this measure at both Government office region and local authority area level.
	The Department has commissioned an independent review and monitoring of the local housing allowance, which will include an assessment of the impacts of extending the shared accommodation rate. It will provide information on the effects of the measures in a variety of different housing markets, including rural areas.

Pension Credit

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in receipt of pension credit (a) are below the state pension retirement age and (b) wish to work.

Steve Webb: As at February 2011 there were 232,610 men aged under 65 in receipt of pension credit. We do not hold any information on how many of this group are actively seeking employment.
	Notes:
	1. The pension credit qualifying age is the same as women's state pension age. As such, it is not possible for a female to claim pension credit under state pension age.
	2. Figures provided are for pension credit recipients. Pension credit recipients are those people who claim pension credit either for themselves or on behalf of themselves and a partner.
	3. Caseload figures are rounded to the nearest 10.
	4. Men who are under their state pension age but have reached the pension credit qualifying age can claim pension credit or income- based jobseekers allowance, which requires recipients to actively seek employment.
	Source:
	DWP Information Directorate Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study 100 per cent data as at November 2009

Pensions

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average time taken was for the Pensions Regulator to begin reviewing a case in the latest period for which figures are available.

Steve Webb: The Pensions Regulator's procedure is for all cases to be allocated to a case worker and for the case review to be opened within twenty-four hours of being reported to or identified by the Pensions Regulator. No specific statistics are compiled in relation to performance of this procedure.

Pensions

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to increase efficiency at the Pensions Regulator.

Steve Webb: The Pensions Regulator was set up in April 2005 with a new proactive and risk-based regulatory approach, placing greater emphasis on identifying and tackling real risks to members' benefits. The delivery of the daily business is managed by the chief executive, reporting to the Board of the Pensions Regulator. There is also ongoing assessment of the Regulator's performance at both ministerial and official level. Following a request from Ministers in line with DWP's other non-departmental public bodies, the Pensions Regulator has submitted proposals to reduce its operating costs over the spending review period, which will be achieved by a number of initiatives to increase efficiencies in it's business whilst maintaining or improving standards of service delivery. The Pensions Regulator publishes a business plan annually and submits an annual report on all its activities to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, the right hon. Member for Chingford and Woodford Green (Mr Duncan Smith), which is then laid before Parliament.

Pensions: Females

Liam Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will set out the number of women whose pension arrangements will now be affected by legislative changes, broken down by constituency.

Steve Webb: The information has been placed in the Library.

Social Security Benefits

Margaret Hodge: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to reduce the level of benefit underpayments; and what consideration he has given to setting a target for such activity.

Chris Grayling: The Department is committed to achieving reductions in the levels of both benefit under and overpayments as a result of fraud and error, and the publication of our joint strategy with HMRC last October, “Tackling fraud and error in the benefit and tax credits system” is a clear demonstration of this.
	The Department's fraud and error reduction activity is currently focused on implementing the strategy. The initiatives in place and being introduced as part of the strategy are focused on improving levels of overall correctness both at the point of payment and during the lifetime of a claim, and will therefore address both under and overpayments.
	The Department already routinely data-matches DWP benefits to identify irregularities and check the correct rate of benefit is being paid and targets both under and overpayments. Under the strategy, and as part of a new integrated risk and intelligence unit, this will be extended to data matching with credit reference agencies to ensure that a benefit is correct before it is put into payment. In addition, the Department is undertaking a large scale programme of correction and review activity (case cleanse), which will identify under and overpayments where customers have failed to report their correct circumstances.
	Other activities to help reduce the level of under and overpayments include the introduction of an independent national checking tier focusing on working age benefits, to check a sample of benefit claims for error covering the process from initial contact to first payment. Critically, it will help the Department confirm where in the process the error began and allow us to address this. Also, a mandatory new claims check for working age benefits was introduced in March 2011, directing staff to confirm all other DWP benefits being received before a decision is reached on the total amount payable. This check also identifies additional benefit entitlements which may otherwise not be paid.
	The Department has considered setting a target for reducing the level of underpayments. However, we have concluded that the introduction of a formal and external target would not add any significant extra value to our current activity to tackle underpayments for the reasons outlined in the Permanent Secretary's letter to you on 12 October.
	The introduction of universal credit will increase annual payments by £4 billion, two thirds of which will be due to better take-up from recipients.

Social Security Benefits

Liam Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will place in the Library all Jobcentre Plus guidance relating to sanctioning benefits, issued in 2011.

Chris Grayling: I have arranged for the relevant chapters from the guides relating to the sanctioning of jobseeker's allowance, employment and support allowance and income support to be placed in the Library. These are the only benefits in which a claimant can receive a sanction for failing to comply with the respective benefit obligations.

State Retirement Pensions: Overseas Residence

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in receipt of a UK state pension are resident in (a) an EU member state, (b) the US, (c) Canada, (d) Australia, (e) New Zealand, (f) South Africa and (g) other countries.

Steve Webb: The information is in the table.
	
		
			 State pension recipients as at February 2011 
			 Country of residence Total 
			 All EU member states 11,814,090 
			 US 138,800 
			 Canada 157,600 
			 Australia 252,100 
			 New Zealand 52,190 
			 South Africa 38,460 
			 All other countries 110,560 
			 Notes: 1. From April 2010, the age at which women reach state pension age started to gradually increase from 60. This will introduce a small increase to the number of working age benefit recipients and a small reduction to the number of pension age recipients. Figures from May 2010 onwards reflect this change. 2. Caseload figures are rounded to the nearest 10; totals may not sum due to rounding. 3. Cases where the country code is unknown are excluded from this analysis. Therefore, the sum of the above figures is less than the total number of state pension recipients. 4 This information is published on our website at: http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/index.php?page=tabtool Source: DWP Information Directorate: Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study.

Universal Credit

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how a contrived tenancy will be (a) identified and (b) dealt with under his proposals for a universal credit.

Steve Webb: The housing benefit regulations include provision to not pay benefit for contrived tenancies. Similar rules will be in place to prevent housing support from being payable for contrived tenancies under universal credit. The Department is working to fully understand how this will work in practice.

Universal Credit

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much of the budget allocated to implementation of universal credit he proposes will be spent in the current financial year; and for what purposes.

Chris Grayling: The Department is currently forecasting to spend £105 million of the budget allocated to the implementation of universal credit in the financial year 2011-12. This will be spent on IT development, programme management and the design of the universal credit system and processes.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Adam Werritty

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether (a) she, (b) any Ministers and (c) officials of her Department have met (i) Mr Michael Hintze, (ii) Mr Tony Buckingham, (iii) Mr Michael Davis, (iv) Mr Poju Zabludowicz, (v) Jon Moulton and (vi) Stephen Crouch; and where any such meetings took place.

Richard Benyon: A full list of ministerial meetings with external organisations is published on the DEFRA website. Records of meetings by officials are not held centrally and would be available only at disproportionate cost.

Adam Werritty

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether (a) she, (b) officials of her Department and (c) special advisers in her Department have met Mr Adam Werritty on official business since May 2010; and how many such meetings took place (i) on her Department's premises and (ii) elsewhere.

Richard Benyon: No Ministers, special advisers or the Permanent Secretary have had any meetings with Mr Adam Werritty. Disproportionate costs would be incurred in checking whether any officials had ever met him but it is considered unlikely.

Agricultural Wages Board

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if her Department will undertake periodic reviews on the effects on wages of agricultural workers of the closure of the Agricultural Wages Board.

James Paice: There are no plans for specific reviews on the effect on wages of agricultural workers if the Agricultural Wages Board is abolished. Information on wages in all sectors of the economy (including agriculture) is monitored through the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, which is run by the Office for National Statistics.

Biodiversity

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many local authorities have submitted an expression of interest in her Department’s pilot on biodiversity offsetting.

Richard Benyon: We received a total of 10 expressions of interest for DEFRA’S pilot on biodiversity offsetting. Of these, nine were led by local authorities. Most proposals were received from multiple planning authorities (county councils, district councils, borough councils and national parks). We also received nine proposals for complementary projects to be run by other organisations.

Biodiversity

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she plans to take to assess the effectiveness of biodiversity offsetting.

Richard Benyon: The biodiversity offsets pilots are being set up specifically in order to enable us to assess the effectiveness of the approach. The pilots will run for two years, after which they will be independently evaluated.

Biodiversity

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she plans to publish indicators on the delivery of Biodiversity 2020: A Strategy for England's Wildlife and Ecosystems Services.

Richard Benyon: We will publish the new biodiversity indicator set in May 2012, following the review of the current set of indicators.

Birds of Prey

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department is taking to protect birds of prey.

Richard Benyon: All wild birds are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, which implements the EC wild birds directive in Great Britain. This provides a powerful framework for the conservation of wild birds, their eggs, nests and habitats. Across the UK there are also a number of special protection areas that have been classified for birds of prey.
	The persecution of birds of prey is a wildlife crime priority for the UK. This priority has been addressed through action plans which include prevention, intelligence and enforcement measures aimed at delivering a targeted, focused tactical response.
	The National Wildlife Crime Unit (part funded by the Government) gathers records and monitors information and intelligence about illegal activities affecting birds of prey. It uses this information to support the wildlife crime priority action plans, as well as to assist individual enforcers in their investigations. It also works closely with all the UK Administrations, as species conservation is a devolved matter.
	Trade in endangered species of wild birds of prey is controlled by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, an international agreement between governments whose aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.

Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control

Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she plans to announce the pilot areas for the scientific culling of badgers; and what assessment she has made of the suitability of Devon as such an area.

James Paice: If we decide to go ahead with the policy, we would anticipate receiving licence applications from areas of the country where TB in cattle is worst. As described in the consultation document, applications would need to demonstrate how they meet the licence criteria, and we proposed that they would be prioritised based on the likely reduction of TB in cattle in the application area. Following the recent stakeholder consultation, we are considering comments received alongside the responses to the 2010 public consultation before taking a decision on whether to proceed with a policy of badger control. We expect this decision to be made later in the year.

Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has held with the Prime Minister on the proposed badger cull using shooting.

James Paice: The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Meriden (Mrs Spelman), discusses a range of issues with the Prime Minister on a regular basis.

Cats: Electric Shock Equipment

Natascha Engel: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research her Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on electronic training aids for cats.

James Paice: We are currently evaluating recent research on the use of electronic training collars for dogs before making any decisions on whether to introduce any legislative proposals relating to such devices. The research is expected to be published before the end of the year.

Charities

Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what grants her Department made to charitable organisations in each of the last five years.

Richard Benyon: The Department does not hold a central record which would identify grants made to charitable organisations in each of the last five years and cannot therefore provide an accurate figure without incurring disproportionate costs.

Circuses

Fiona O'Donnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  which circuses were inspected by inspectors and vets appointed by her Department in the last 10 years; and what the (a) dates of such inspections and (b) location of the circuses at the time of the inspection were;
	(2)  whether (a) inspectors or (b) veterinary surgeons appointed by her Department inspected animal circuses between 1991 and 2011; and if she will place in the Library a copy of any such inspection reports;
	(3)  which external advisers are providing advice to her Department on its new licensing regime for wild animals in circuses; and how many officials of her Department are working on the licensing regime;
	(4)  if she will place in the Library a copy of each piece of advice provided to her Department on her new licensing regime for wild animals in circuses.

James Paice: There is currently no animal welfare legislation that specifically covers travelling circuses that would require them to be inspected on a formal, routine basis by a Government inspector. While we are aware that there have been inspections (three at the request of DEFRA for a feasibility study in 2008, for which the reports were carried out in confidence), these usually have been done locally on an informal, infrequent basis with no requirement for the inspection, or the inspection report, to be notified centrally to DEFRA or the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency or any of its predecessor bodies.
	The proposed new circus animal licensing scheme will put inspections on a formal, statutory, footing. The new scheme will certainly ensure we have a record of all the routine licensing inspections carried out on circuses. We will need to consider what information about, and from, the inspections should be made available publicly to ensure the scheme is as transparent as possible. We will consult on proposals early next year.
	No external advisers have been appointed to provide advice on our proposed licensing regime for wild animals in circuses. During the development of the regulations we will, of course, be seeking relevant stakeholder input into the proposed licensing standards. Our proposals will also be subject to a public consultation early in the new year that will provide anyone with an interest in this issue an opportunity to comment on the licensing scheme. The team taking forward the new licensing scheme consists of three full time officials supported by a veterinary adviser and a legal adviser.
	We have not received any specific written advice on our proposed licensing regime. However, all responses to the proposed public consultation on the new licensing scheme will be made publicly available through the DEFRA Information Resource Centre after the consultation has closed. The information contained in the responses may also be published in a summary of the responses.

Cocklers

Fiona O'Donnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what steps she is taking in respect of the safety of cocklers following recent rescues in the Ribble estuary;
	(2)  what recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Transport on the rescue of cocklers in the Ribble estuary.

Richard Benyon: The North West Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (NWIFCA) is responsible for the management of the cockle fishery on the Ribble estuary. This fishery is managed through byelaws. Byelaw No. 5 requires cocklers to obtain a permit to fish from the IFCA. In order to obtain a permit, applicants must complete appropriate safety training as part of the application process.
	Impacts arising from the Ribble estuary fishery are being managed by a multi-agency committee led by Fylde council (north side) and Sefton council (south side). Comprehensive multi-agency plans have been prepared and endorsed by the NWIFCA, local authorities, the police, the Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA), the Marine and Coastguard Agency, Natural England, the Mersey Port Health Authority and other bodies.
	In the interest of public safety, NWIFCA have taken the decision to close the fishery on the Ribble by virtue of an emergency byelaw. This byelaw, which prevents anybody from removing cockles without written authorisation from the IFCA, came into effect at 00:01 hours on Monday 7 November 2011 and will be reviewed at the IFCAs next meeting on 6 December 2011. I am encouraged by the cross agency working that has been taking place in the Ribble area over the past few weeks. The IFCA will need to work with other local authorities to enforce this closure.
	While I support the IFCAs decision to close the fishery, it is a matter of regret that this action has had to be taken as legitimate fishermen are being denied their livelihood by the reckless actions of some and the illegal actions of a few. NWIFCA are currently considering what additional management measures are required to enable the fishery to reopen to these legitimate fishers as soon as possible, and in doing so will need to be satisfied that the safety of fishermen is not compromised.
	Regular discussions are held with the Secretary of State for Transport, the right hon. Member for Putney (Justine Greening), on issues of mutual interest, including safety at sea, which is discussed when the need arises.

Dangerous Dogs

Simon Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department is taking to tackle dangerous dogs.

James Paice: We have made it a priority to look at the complex issue of dangerous dogs, which is an increasingly important issue for the public. We are now considering a package of measures to address the issue by toughening legislation and promoting preventative action.
	We shall shortly announce measures to tackle dangerous dogs and make our streets safer.

Travel Costs

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  which travel management companies her Department uses for the purchase of airline tickets;
	(2)  what (a) contractual obligations and (b) other processes her Department uses in respect of travel management companies to ensure the best value is achieved when purchasing airline tickets.

Richard Benyon: DEFRA uses Redfern Travel Ltd under the Government Procurement Services Framework when purchasing airline tickets. The Department has the following contractual obligations for purchasing airline tickets:
	Redfern Travel provides a booking service for rail, air and ferry services, operating within a service level agreement and having access to global airline bookings.
	Hours of operation are 8 am to 6 pm with the addition of an emergency out of hours service; telephone and email services are used.
	DEFRA ensures best value when purchasing airline tickets by using only the travel management supplier and:
	Requiring prior approval to spend any funds for air travel with no first class travel allowed.
	Provision of an in-house ticketing machine in London locations to save on the cost of delivering tickets.
	Use of management information provided by the travel management company to track spend and CO2.

Consultants

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many full-time equivalent staff are employed on consultancy contracts in her Department; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Benyon: On 30 September 2011, the core Department used one full-time equivalent consultant and four part-time consultants totalling 1.94 FTE between them.

Manpower

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many officials were (a) directly and (b) otherwise employed by non-departmental public bodies for which her Department is responsible (i) in 2000, (ii) in 2005, (iii) in 2007, (iv) in 2010 and (v) on the most recent date for which figures are available.

Richard Benyon: No civil servants are employed directly by DEFRA's non-departmental public bodies.
	It is possible that civil servants employed by DEFRA or other Government Departments may be seconded to non-departmental public bodies, but information about these secondments is not recorded centrally and complete figures could be provided only by incurring disproportionate cost.

Parliamentary Questions

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether draft answers to parliamentary questions prepared by officials in her Department are cleared by special advisers (a) before and (b) after the relevant Minister.

Richard Benyon: DEFRA special advisers have the opportunity to comment and advise their Ministers on answers to parliamentary questions before these are given final clearance by the relevant Minister or Ministers.

Procurement

Gordon Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the cost of employing civil servants to undertake procurement for her Department in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11; and what estimate she has made of the cost of (i) employing civil servants and (ii) engaging consultants to undertake procurement for her Department in 2011-12.

Richard Benyon: The costs for the core Department are shown in the following table. The 2011-12 figures are estimates taken at the mid-year review. Consultants are not used in this function but there are interim staff whose costs are shown. It is expected that further reductions in the use of interims will reduce the estimated figure shown.
	
		
			  Cost (£) 
			 (a) 2008-09 civil servants 1,298,693 
			 (b)2009-10 civil servants 1,260,846 
			 (c) 2010-11 civil servants 1,286,229 
			 (i) 2011-12 civil servants 1,387,292 
			 (ii) 2011-12 consultants 0 
			 2011-12 interims 2,493,948

Procurement

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many contracts her Department has awarded directly to third sector organisations in each month since May 2010; what the value was of such contracts; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Benyon: Core DEFRA does not categorise spend by the third sector specifically and is therefore unable to provide this information.

Procurement

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many contracts her Department has advertised on the Contracts Finder website in each month since May 2010; what the value was of such contracts; what proportion were awarded to (a) third sector organisations and (b) small businesses; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Benyon: In line with Government policy, DEFRA began publishing contract information on the Contracts Finder website from January 2011.
	The following table shows data for the core department for contracts awarded and registered on Contracts Finder.
	
		
			 As at each month 2011 Total Small/medium businesses 
			 January 14 10 
			 February 11 9 
			 March 25 18 
			 April 11 9 
			 May 10 7 
			 June 6 3 
			 July 7 5 
			 August 11 8 
			 September 6 2 
			 October 3 2 
		
	
	The Contracts Finder website does not record information on which bodies are third sector organisations or small businesses. The figures for small/medium above are taken from core Department central records, but figures for the third sector could be given only at disproportionate cost.

Research

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her Department's research and development budget was in each of the last five years; and what that budget will be for each year of the spending review period.

Richard Benyon: Core DEFRA's research and development spend for the last five years is in the following table.
	
		
			  Spend (£ million) 
			 2006-07 137 
			 2007-08 130 
			 2008-09 128 
			 2009-10 120 
			 2010-11 104 
		
	
	DEFRA has not yet determined the details of its research spend for each year of the spending review period.

Written Questions

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many parliamentary questions for (a) ordinary written answer and (b) written answer on a named day by her Department have remained unanswered for a period of two months since May 2010.

Richard Benyon: No named day parliamentary questions have remained unanswered for a period of two months since May 2010; 13 ordinary written questions have remained unanswered for that period.
	The Government have committed to providing the Procedure Committee with information relating to written parliamentary question performance on a sessional basis and will provide full information to the Committee at the end of the Session. Statistics relating to Government Departments' performance for the 2009-10 parliamentary Session were previously provided to the Committee and are available on the Parliament website.

Environment Protection: Local Authorities

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what data on conservation and biodiversity local authorities are required to submit to her Department under the single data list.

Richard Benyon: The single data list requires local authorities to submit data on the percentage and number of local sites where positive conservation management is being or has been implemented in the last five years (along with the total number of sites in the local authority area). This data was formerly required by National Indicator 197 and continues as part of the single data list (data collection reference 160-00).

Fisheries: Ribble Estuary

Mark Menzies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to address issues arising from cockle-picking on the Ribble estuary.

Richard Benyon: The North West Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (NWIFCA) is responsible for the management of the cockle fishery on the Ribble estuary. This fishery is managed through byelaws. Byelaw No. 5 requires cocklers to obtain a permit to fish from the IFCA. In order to obtain a permit, applicants must complete appropriate safety training as part of the application process.
	Impacts arising from the fishery are managed by a multi-agency committee led by Fylde council (north side) and Sefton council (south side). Comprehensive multi-agency plans have been prepared and endorsed by the NWIFCA, local authorities, the police, the Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA), the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, Natural England, the Mersey Port Health Authority and other bodies.
	In the interest of public safety, NWIFCA has taken the decision to close the fishery on the Ribble by virtue of an emergency byelaw. This byelaw, which prevents anybody from removing cockles without written authorisation from the IFCA, came into effect at 00:01 hours on Monday 7 November 2011 and will be reviewed at the IFCAs next meeting on 6 December 2011. I am encouraged by the cross agency working that has been taking place in the Ribble area over the past few weeks. The IFCA will need to work with other local authorities to enforce this closure.
	While I support the IFCAs decision to close the fishery, it is a matter of regret that this action has had to be taken as legitimate fishermen are being denied their livelihood by the reckless actions of some and the illegal actions of a few. NWIFCA is currently considering what additional management measures are required to enable the fishery to reopen to these legitimate fishers as soon as possible, and in doing so will need to be satisfied that the safety of fishermen is not compromised.
	Officers from the GLA, which is a DEFRA non-departmental body, are investigating recent reports concerning cocklers in the Ribble estuary area. If the GLA finds evidence that gangmasters were involved, it will take appropriate action under its statutory powers.

Horses

Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what penalties may be invoked against horse owners who do not hold equestrian passports; and how many prosecutions for that offence have been brought by trading standards officers.

James Paice: The Horse Passports Regulations 2009 (which apply in England) make it an offence for a horse owner not to apply for a passport within six months of the animal's birth or by 31 December of the year of its birth, whichever is later. Penalties for offences under the Horse Passports Regulations 2009 are, on summary conviction, a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum; or on conviction on indictment, a fine.
	Records held on the Animal Health and Welfare Management and Enforcement system (AMES) show that in 2010, seven prosecutions were initiated, of which six led to convictions. Between 1 January 2011 and 20 October 2011, three prosecutions were initiated. The AMES database records enforcement activity related to a registered holding that has been issued a Country Parish Holding (CPH) number. Data relating to other premises, roadside checks of transporters, or other locations, or by bodies other than those local authorities that upload data to AMES, are not held.

Nature Conservation

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many species are critically endangered in (a) the UK and (b) British overseas territories.

Richard Benyon: Of those species that have been studied there are 29 species critically endangered in the UK and 101 species critically endangered in the British overseas territories.

Nature Conservation

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many hectares of land are designated a priority habitat in England.

Richard Benyon: “Priority habitat” is not a formal designation, but certain habitats are listed under section 41 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 as being of principal importance for the conservation of biological diversity. The total area of these habitats in England above mean low water is estimated to be 1.75 million hectares. This value excludes linear habitats such as rivers and hedgerows, for which area estimates are not available.

Poultry: Animal Welfare

Glyn Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what discussions she has had with her (a) Spanish, (b) Italian, (c) Polish and (d) French counterparts on likely levels of non-compliance with the welfare of laying hens directive from 1 January 2012; what data her Department holds on such levels; and if she will publish such data;
	(2)  what discussions she has had with her (a) Dutch and (b) Belgian counterparts on likely levels of non-compliance with the welfare of laying hens directive; what information her Department holds on likely levels of non-compliance; and if she will publish any such information.

James Paice: All member states were asked by the Commission to provide the level of progress at 1 April, a forecast for December 2011 and, more recently, an update on the level of conversion as at 27 September 2011. The UK has submitted these returns to the Commission as requested. Likely levels of non-compliance were discussed at a recent meeting in Brussels. The Commission to date has not published these data.
	However, at a European Parliament debate in October, the Commission acknowledged for the first time that Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, France, Poland, Portugal and Romania did not expect to be fully compliant. Another five member states, including Spain, had also failed to provide any data to the Commission.
	The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Meriden (Mrs Spelman), wrote jointly with nine other concerned member states to the European Commission in September. They urged the Commission to act quickly to protect those producers across the EU who will have complied with the ban from the risk of competitive distortion in favour of those who will have maintained illegal production after 1 January 2012.
	Discussions at an EU level are ongoing and the UK is fully engaged with the Commission and other member states in finding a practical enforcement solution.

Recycling: Glass

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what information her Department holds on the (a) cost and (b) efficiency of recycling glass compared to plastic bottles.

Richard Benyon: Data on the cost and efficiency of recycling glass compared to plastic bottles are not held centrally.

Sites of Special Scientific Interest

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what proportion of Sites of Special Scientific Interest her Department considers to be in favourable condition;
	(2)  how frequently the condition of Sites of Special Scientific Interest are assessed;
	(3)  when the condition of (a) priority habitats and (b) Sites of Special Scientific Interest were last assessed in England.

Richard Benyon: As at 1 November 2011, 37.1% of England's 1.04 million hectares of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) had been assessed by Natural England as being in favourable condition.
	The condition of England's SSSIs is assessed for each site individually, with site assessments undertaken on a rolling cycle. The latest full cycle of assessments was completed in December 2010. The national SSSI condition statistic is updated monthly to reflect the most recent site assessments as they are completed.
	SSSIs in England are monitored by Natural England on a risk-based cycle, with higher-risk sites monitored most frequently. The average visit interval across all SSSIs is seven years.
	There is no current comprehensive assessment of the condition of priority habitats in England. Sample-based assessments have been completed for five lowland grassland priority habitats (2002-03); lowland heathlands (2008-09); and three upland priority habitats (2008-09). Plans are in development to secure a more comprehensive assessment of habitats across England that will enable improved reporting on priority habitat condition in the future.

UN Convention: Watercourses

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she plans to ratify the 1997 UN convention on the law of the non-navigational uses of international watercourses; and what timetable she has set for any such ratification.

Richard Benyon: The United Kingdom has not signed the 1997 United Nations convention on the law of the non-navigational uses of international watercourses. Since the time for signing has passed, the process now would be for accession rather than ratification.
	The UK has no immediate plans to accede to the convention but DEFRA, the Department for International Development and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office are reviewing the potential benefits of possible accession.

DEFENCE

Adam Werritty

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 8 November 2011, Official Report, columns 228-9W, on Adam Werritty, what the nature was of the social events at which the Minister for International Security Strategy met Mr Werritty.

Gerald Howarth: I met Mr Werritty at a sporting event and a wedding.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel returning from Afghanistan are receiving help with mental health issues due to the trauma of service.

Andrew Robathan: Defence Analysis Statistics and Advice (DASA) records attendance by service personnel at the Ministry of Defence's Departments of Community Mental Health (DCMHs). During the most recent full financial year (2010-11), a total of 1,670 UK service personnel who had deployed to Afghanistan were recorded as having been assessed for a new episode of care at a DCMH. Conditions treated include alcohol abuse, depression, adjustment disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
	Because DASA does not hold information on discharge from care, we are unable to provide information on those who are currently receiving treatment. Also, in most cases where a mental disorder is diagnosed there may be a number of causal factors involved, of which trauma caused by operational deployment is just one.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost to the public purse has been of the provision of mental health care to armed forces personnel returning from Afghanistan.

Andrew Robathan: Mental health care is provided for all armed forces personnel, and it is not possible to disaggregate specific costs against personnel returning from Afghanistan. In addition, because of the many ways in which mental health care is provided and funded, it is not possible to provide a figure that covers all the numerous care streams, such as that provided by GPs in primary care facilities, or by non-medical personnel such as welfare staff.
	However, a substantial proportion of this care is provided through the Ministry of Defence's Departments of Community Mental Health (DCMHs), which provide out-patient care. During the financial year 2010-11, overall manpower and running costs for the 15 DCMHs in the UK were £6.576 million. In-patient care in the UK is provided in specialist psychiatric units under contract with the NHS, and during the same period costs of £1.321 million were billed against this contract.

Aircraft Carriers

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  whether his Department has (a) amended or (b) cancelled any contracts with British firms as a result of the decision to convert one of the Queen Elizabeth class carriers to cats and traps;
	(2)  what (a) legal, (b) administrative and (c) other costs including compensation have arisen from the amendment or cancellation of contracts as a result of the decision to convert the Queen Elizabeth class carrier to cats and traps.

Peter Luff: The Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) concluded that we would fit a catapult and arrestor gear operational carrier to enable it to fly the more capable Carrier Variant (CV) of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF). The CV JSF carries a greater payload, has a longer range and costs less than the Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) variant. The change made will also give us greater interoperability with our allies. No contracts have been formally cancelled or amended by the Ministry of Defence as a result of the SDSR decision to convert one of the Queen Elizabeth (QE) class carriers. We do expect that there will be a need to amend some contracts once we have concluded the work necessary to inform the decision in late 2012 as to which carrier will be converted.
	In the meantime we have, in agreement with the Aircraft Carrier Alliance, stopped some elements of build work related to the STOVL design, such as the ramp. It is expected that the removal of the ramp will be captured in a formal amendment in early 2012, and further changes arising from decisions on conversion will be captured in 2013.
	We have not incurred any legal, administrative or other costs, including compensation, as we have not amended or cancelled any QE class contracts since the SDSR concluded.

Armed Forces: Bullying

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the adequacy of procedures to ensure timely, independent and impartial redress for victims of bullying in the armed services.

Andrew Robathan: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is currently undertaking a fundamental review of the service complaints process following direction given by the Service Personnel Board and as recommended in the Service Complaints Commissioner’s (SCC) annual report for 2010 (recommendation 10.9). A copy of the report is available in the Library of the House.
	The purpose of the review is to scrutinise all elements of the current system, including bullying and harassment complaints, and to assess the scope for reform, making the system as fair, effective and efficient as possible. The MOD’s formal response to the SCC’s annual report for 2010 provides more detail on the review and can be accessed through the parliamentary website (Deposited paper DEP2011-1178) at the following address:
	http://deposits.parliament.uk/
	Copies are available in the Library of the House.

Armed Forces: Education

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the estimated cost is of service education allowances in 2011-12; and what estimate he has made of the future cost of the allowances.

Andrew Robathan: The current estimated gross cost of Continuity of Education Allowances (CEA) for financial year 2011-12 is £175 million. It is expected to reduce to £170 million in 2012-13 taking into account savings measures agreed during the Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR), the impacts of which are yet to be realised. Thereafter the estimated cost of CEA, if current levels of uptake continue, may begin to rise again as inflationary factors are taken into account.
	On future costs, I refer the hon. Member to the statement made on 13 October 2011, Official Report, columns 36-38WS, by the Minister for the Armed Forces, my hon. Friend the Member for North Devon (Nick Harvey), which stated that the Government have a target to reduce spending on CEA by at least half by 2020.

Armed Forces: Members

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment his Department has made of the value to (a) parliamentarians and (b) the armed services of the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme since its inception; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Harvey: The Ministry of Defence greatly values the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme. The scheme was subject to a review in 2006, which assessed that the scheme performs an important and valuable role in giving Members of Parliament and Members of the House of Lords an understanding of the role, operations and management of the armed forces.

Defence: Finance

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the defence budget was spent on responding to (a) natural disasters, (b) network failures or disruption and (c) criminal activity in each year since 2008.

Nick Harvey: Natural disasters, network failures or disruption, or criminal activity are the lead responsibility of other Government Departments and the Defence budget does not include provision for them.
	Where the Ministry of Defence is called upon to assist, we would do so free of charge where there was an imminent threat to human life, or seek repayment of the additional costs to defence in the case of less severe threats. We do not keep a central record of all the costs we reclaim. Thus, the information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Defence: Procurement

Craig Whittaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) original budget, (b) projected final cost, (c) expected time scales for delivery, (d) primary contractor and (e) identity of additional consortium members are in relation to the Nimrod MRA4 project.

Peter Luff: The initial approved cost for the Nimrod MRA4 aircraft project was £2.813 billion. The procurement costs as at March 2011 were £3.010 billion, excluding the cost of capital charges and support phase costs, which had been included in previously reported costs. By May 2010, Nimrod MRA4 was 114 months late and £789 million over the original approved cost.
	Following the Strategic Defence and Security Review, the Government took the decision that, owing to the financial blackhole it inherited, the Nimrod MRA4 aircraft would not be brought into service. The prime contractor for the programme was BAE Systems. Major subcontractors included Rolls-Royce, Boeing, Smiths Industries and Thales; however, BAE Systems did not develop the Nimrod MRA4 as part of a consortium.
	There was no guarantee when the aircraft would be ready or how much more it would have cost.

Defence: Procurement

Craig Whittaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) original budget, (b) projected final cost, (c) expected time scales for delivery, (d) primary contractor and (e) identity of additional consortium members are in relation to the Lynx Wildcat project.

Peter Luff: holding answer 14 November 2011
	The original approval for the Wildcat project design and manufacture (D and M) phase was £1.803 billion. The current expected out-turn cost of the D and M phase is £1.644 billion as at 31 March 2011.
	The first Wildcat delivery is forecast for April 2012 with initial operating capabilities and in-service dates of January 2014 for the Army variant and January 2015 for the Royal Navy variant.
	The prime contractor for Wildcat D and M is Agusta Westland. There is no consortium for the delivery of Wildcat, but Agusta Westland has subcontracted some elements of the project.

Defence: Procurement

Craig Whittaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) original budget, (b) projected final cost, (c) expected timescales for delivery, (d) primary contractor and (e) identity of additional consortium members are in relation to the Seawolf MLU project.

Peter Luff: The original cash budget set in 1999 for the development and manufacture phases of the Seawolf mid life update (SWMLU) was £270 million (after adjustment for forecast inflation). The final projected cash cost is currently estimated at £280 million. The increase is largely due to decisions taken by the previous Government which affected ship availability at the planned update installation dates.
	SWMLU entered service in 2009 following installation on the first Type 23 (T23) frigate and there are currently three SWMLU fitted T23 ships in service. The remainder of the T23 fleet will be updated before the end of the decade.
	The prime contractor is BAE Mission Systems, which is not part of a consortium.

Defence: Scotland

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department spent on the Scottish Prime Contract in each year since 2003.

Andrew Robathan: The amount spent on Regional Prime Contract Scotland since 2003 is shown in the following table:
	
		
			 Financial year Core service spend (£ million) 
			 2003-04 19.8 
			 2004-05 83.3 
			 2005-06 97.7 
			 2006-07 98.9 
			 2007-08 91.1 
			 2008-09 73.7 
			 2009-10 96.0 
			 2010-11 84.6 
			 2011-12 34.2 
			 Note: The spend figure given for 2011-12 is for April to September 2011 only

Defence: Scotland

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which companies submitted an expression of interest in the Regional Prime Scotland and Northern Ireland contract.

Andrew Robathan: The 70 companies which submitted an expression of interest (EOI) for the Scotland and Northern Ireland Regional Prime are shown in the following list.
	AECOM Ltd
	Amey PLC
	Arthur Mackay & Co Ltd
	Arup
	Babcock International Group
	BAE Systems Surface Ships Support Ltd
	BAM Nuttal Ltd
	Barnes Group Ltd
	Bell Ingram Ltd
	BRITSPACE
	Bruton Knowles
	Carillion Enterprise Ltd
	CCG Construction Ltd
	City Building (Glasgow) LLP
	COFELY Ltd
	Currie and Brown UK Ltd
	Daden Ltd
	DynCorp International
	Ecovert FM Ltd
	Faithful + Gould
	Forbo Flooring UK Ltd
	G3 Systems
	GBM Demolition
	George Leslie Ltd
	Godfrey Syrett Ltd
	GSS Plant
	GVA Grimley Ltd
	HCR Ltd
	HOCHTIEF Facility Management GmBH
	Iconoclast Ltd
	Integral UK Ltd
	Interior Services Group
	Interserve Ltd
	Kelda Water Services (Defence) Ltd
	Kellogg Brown & Root Ltd
	Kier Facilities Services Ltd
	Landmarc Support Services Ltd
	MANSELL Construction Services Ltd
	McLaren Construction Group
	Miller Developments Ltd
	MITIE Group PLC
	MVA Consultancy Ltd
	Northcroft Group Ltd
	NICEIC Consulting
	Osiris Marine Services Ltd
	PDP Green Consulting Ltd
	Pick Everard
	PriDE (SERP) Ltd
	Provelio Ltd
	Rider Levett Bucknall UK Ltd
	Robertson Group Ltd
	RW Services Ltd
	Sage (UK) Ltd
	Savills (L&P) Ltd
	Serco Ltd
	Sodexo Ltd
	Specialised Technology Group
	Specialist Subsea Services Ltd
	SSE Contracting
	Tarmac Ltd
	The Erith Group of Companies
	Thomas Johnstone Ltd
	Thomas Vale Construction Ltd
	Turner Facility Management
	UK Power Network Holdings
	URS Corporation Ltd
	Veolia Water
	Voormeroon Ltd
	Wates Group Ltd
	Willmott Dixon Capital Works Ltd
	A further five companies based in Northern Ireland also submitted an EOI. However, their names have been withheld for security reasons.

Defence: Scotland

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the deadline date is for submission of the final tender solutions for the Prime Scotland and Northern Ireland Contract.

Andrew Robathan: The current estimated date for final tender submissions for the Scotland and Northern Ireland Regional Prime Contract is February 2013.

Consultants

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department spent on external consultants from 1 May 2010 to 1 November 2011.

Peter Luff: holding answer 9 November 2011
	The total spend on consultancy contracts (as defined by the Government Procurement Service) for the 17-month period 1 May 2010 to 30 September 2011 (the latest data available) for the Ministry of Defence (MOD) was £33.014 million. This includes the MOD agencies and Trading Funds. By comparison, the total spend on consultancy contracts (as defined by the Government Procurement Service) for the 12-month period 1 April 2009 to 31 March 2010 for the MOD was £79 million.
	We continue to minimise expenditure on consultancy in compliance with the tighter controls announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne), last year and I welcome the sharp reduction in the cost of using such consultants that we have achieved as a result.

Consultants

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish his Department's guidance on employing external consultants.

Peter Luff: A copy of the Ministry of Defence (MOD)'s most recent guidance on employing external consultants—the Defence Instruction Implementing the Freeze on Consultancy Spend—Notice 2010DIN08-23 of July 2010 will be placed in the Library of the House. This updates the departmental guidance on consultancy assistance, a copy of which I will also place in the Library of the House.
	The current MOD practice on employing external consultants is in line with the guidance published by the Cabinet Office on 24 May 2010, as updated in September 2011, which is available at the following address:
	http://www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/guidanceonactionsandprocessesv2Oct2011

Departmental Pay

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many officials in his Department received a bonus in each year since 2007.

Andrew Robathan: A close and effective link between pay and performance is a key element of the reward arrangements for the civil service. The performance element of pay is colloquially known as a bonus, but it is a misleading description because the performance-related element of pay is not additional, but part of the departmental pay bill.
	For senior civil servants (SCS) on standard contracts, performance incentives are paid primarily as non-consolidated performance payments. Any award is based on a judgment of how well an individual has performed against their peers and awards are made to those judged to have made the greatest in-year contribution to business objectives. There is no restriction on the nature of the contribution but it must benefit the Department or Defence more widely. Recommendations for awards are considered by moderation committees and must be linked to clear evidence of delivery.
	While all satisfactory performers at SCS level are eligible to be considered for a non-consolidated performance award, the percentage of staff who actually receive them is restricted by the Cabinet Office. Currently only the top 25% may earn one.
	Senior fixed-term employees are individuals who are recruited through fair and open competition from outside the civil service. Those employed as senior fixed-term appointees (FTAs) are on individual contracts and have a higher percentage of pay set to performance awards which are judged against stringent and stretching delivery-based objectives. Some have staged payments and it is now usual to pay a smaller annual performance award with the remainder deferred for two to three years and judged against the delivery of medium to longer-term objectives. Performance is judged by line management with assistance from senior officials, stakeholders, remuneration committees and in some cases internal audit.
	Details of how many SCS staff received a non-consolidated performance award each year are shown in tables 1 and 2.
	
		
			 Table 1: SCS permanent staff 
			 Performance year Financial year Number of awards paid 
			 2010-11 2011-12 (1)— 
			 2009-10 2010-11 169 
			 2008-09 2009-10 195 
			 2007-08 2008-09 187 
			 2006-07 2007-08 186 
			 2005-06 2006-07 181 
			 (1) Please refer to transparency data at: http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/aboutDefence/Corporatepublications/financialreports/salaries/nonconsolidatedperformanceawards.htm A copy of the information has been placed in the Library of the House. 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 2 : SCS  fixed term appointees 
			 SCS FTA  performance year Financial year Number of awards paid 
			 2010-11 2011-12 (1)— 
			 2009-10 2010-11 23 
			 2008-09 2009-10 27 
			 2007-08 2008-09 16 
			 2006-07 2007-08 10 
			 2005-06 2006-07 12 
			 (1) Please refer to transparency data at: http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/aboutDefence/Corporatepublications/financialreports/salaries/nonconsolidatedperformanceawards.htm A copy of the information has been placed in the Library of the House. 
		
	
	For staff below the SCS, non-consolidated performance awards are paid to those who meet the eligibility criteria. Higher levels of award are available for those who have contributed most to the business. These awards are distributed on the basis of relative assessment among peers and are designed to encourage continuous high attainment against stretching objectives.
	The Ministry of Defence (MOD) also operates an in-year non-consolidated payment scheme, the special bonus scheme (SBS), which rewards eligible MOD civilians for exceptional performance in a specific task or for the achievement of a professional qualification the use of which benefits MOD and the individual. Separate arrangements apply to MOD police officers.
	The following table details the total number of payments made to staff below the SCS by way of non-consolidated performance payments and SBS awards by financial year.
	
		
			 Financial year Total number of awards made (1) 
			 2006-07 55,339 
			 2007-08 61,878 
			 2008-09 71,940 
			 2009-10 66,585 
			 2010-11 65,603 
			 2011-12 (2)— 
			 (1) It is not possible to state how many individuals received awards since the data are held as number of awards made and not the number of recipients. (2) Please refer to transparency data at: http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/aboutDefence/Corporatepublications/financialreports/salaries/nonconsolidatedperformanceawards.htm A copy of the information has been placed in the Library of the House. 
		
	
	This response excludes information on staff below the SCS in MOD Trading Funds which have separate pay delegations.

Security Vetting

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what level of security vetting is required for (a) special advisers and (b) ministerial-appointed policy advisers in his Department; and if he will list each person who has held these posts since May 2010.

Andrew Robathan: Circumstances in which a post may require the holder to be the subject of national security vetting check are described in HMG Personnel Security Controls document, which is available from the Cabinet Office website at:
	http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/hmg-personnel-security-controls
	It would not be appropriate to confirm which specific posts within the Department are the subject of vetting, as this could highlight who within the Department has access to sensitive material and be used for targeting purposes.
	I refer the hon. Gentleman to the quarterly publication of the list of special advisers which is available in the Library of the House and can also be accessed on the Cabinet Office Website at:
	http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/special-adviser-data-releases
	There are no ministerial-appointed policy advisers in the Department.

Ex-servicemen: Finance

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what funds are available to support community groups assisting former armed services personnel in England and Wales.

Andrew Robathan: The Community Covenant was launched across the UK in June 2011. It is a voluntary scheme designed to improve integration between the armed forces and civilian community at a local level. The armed forces community which the scheme is designed to help includes service personnel, their families, the bereaved and veterans. To support this scheme the Ministry of Defence has set aside up to £30 million over the next four years to fund local projects across the UK that support this aim.
	Information regarding the Community Covenant and Community Covenant Grant Scheme is available on the Ministry of Defence website at:
	http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/Showcase/ProvidingForOurPeople.htm

France: Military Alliances

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the potential effect on UK-French defence co-operation of planned reductions to the French defence budget.

Philip Hammond: The potential for reductions in the French defence budget is a matter for the French Government. It is clear, however, that France is as committed as the UK to strengthening Franco-British Defence co-operation and maintaining military capabilities against a background of constraints on public expenditure. It will therefore be in the interest of both nations actively to explore options for co-operation in both operational and equipment areas in accordance with the UK-France defence treaty.

Iran

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what planning has been done in relation to a possible conflict with Iran.

Nick Harvey: holding answer 14 November 2011
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on the 14 November 2011, Official Report, columns 571-72, to my hon. Friend the Member for Kettering (Mr Hollobone).

Malaysia: Military Decorations

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, following the announcement by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State on 26 October 2011, when he expects those who have been awarded the Pingat Jasa Malaysia medal to be notified that they may wear it; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Robathan: I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement that I made on 8 November 2011, Official Report, column 11WS.

Military Aid: Equipment

Stephen Gilbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what military equipment has been gifted by the UK to overseas military and security forces in 2011 to date; to which country each was gifted; and what the estimated monetary value was in each case.

Philip Hammond: holding answer 21 October 2011
	Information on equipment gifted to overseas Governments in 2011 by the Ministry of Defence is provided in the following table:
	
		
			 Equipment Recipient Value (£) 
			 IT equipment Sierra Leone 3,970 
			 Military communication equipment United States 500 
		
	
	
		
			 Musical instruments and transport costs Sierra Leone 8,013 
			 Five expeditionary elevated Sangars (temporary fortified positions) Afghanistan 120,921 
			 Musical instruments and transport costs Iraq 5,546 
			 Trucks, trailers, and other equipment Belize 10,000 
			 Recreational and communication equipment, etc. Belize 2,000 
			 Personal protective equipment Afghanistan 9,567 
			 Ammunition supply point (nominal value as there was no sales potential) United States 1 
			 20 lightweight explosive ordnance disposal suits Lebanon 26,000 
			 Medical equipment, navigation aids, vehicle maintenance and recovery equipment, survivability related kit and transport costs Mauritania 119,500 
			 20 lightweight explosive ordnance disposal suits and transport costs Algeria 29,000 
			 Musical instruments Ethiopia 2,500 
		
	
	In addition, a gift to the Libyan Government of naval equipment worth £64,810 has been approved but not yet implemented.

Military Bases: Radiation Exposure

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information his Department holds on (a) defence sites in the UK and (b) sites overseas used by British military forces that (i) are known to have been and (ii) might have been contaminated with radium that has been disposed of since 1945; when each such disposal took place; and what level of radioactivity has been recorded at each such disposal site.

Andrew Robathan: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

MOD Police and Guarding Agency

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the case for amalgamating the MOD police with the Civil Nuclear Constabulary; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Robathan: holding answer 14 November 2011
	The Ministry of Defence police and Civil Nuclear Constabulary are already working towards closer operational interoperability and collaboration in order to enhance the effectiveness and protection of defence and civil nuclear sites.
	Ministry of Defence and Department for Energy and Climate Change Ministers have recently agreed that a scoping study should be undertaken to establish whether a formal merger would bring further benefits.

Navy: Animal Experiments

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he next plans to review the use of animals in experiments relating to naval personnel.

Peter Luff: Animal experimentation at Dstl has saved the lives of many service men and women.
	Dstl takes animal welfare extremely seriously. Animal experimentation is only undertaken when no alternatives are available. It is reviewed in accordance with the principles of the three Rs (replacement, reduction and refinement). Dstl has an active programme to increase the implementation of the three Rs by exploring the use of non-living models in order to reduce the requirement for animal experimentation.

Type 23 Frigates

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which Type 23 frigate has been allocated to be Fleet Ready Escort from 1 November 2011; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Harvey: As of 7 November 2011 HMS Iron Duke has been the Fleet Ready Escort. Between 1 November and 7 November 2011 a number of other Royal Navy units were at sea maintaining the security of UK waters. Should a warship have been required for emergency stand-by during this period, one would have been tasked accordingly.

War Memorials: Vandalism

Guy Opperman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to prevent the desecration of war memorials.

Andrew Robathan: It is appalling that memorials are being vandalised and violated in the manner reported. The Ministry of Defence supports any plan to protect the memory of those who have served and paid the ultimate price defending our country.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Burma: Overseas Aid

David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much and what proportion of his Department's funding for Burma was spent on assistance to refugees and internally displaced peoples along the Thailand-Burma border in the latest period for which figures are available.

Andrew Mitchell: DFID's project ‘Assistance to Conflict Affected People, Eastern Burma’ provides aid to refugees and internally displaced people (IDPs) along the Thailand-Burma border. By the end of 2010 the project had provided aid for food security for more than 42,000 IDPs inside Burma, funded more than 4,000 new or improved sanitation facilities in 158 villages in Burma, and given grants to help with the cost of schooling to more than 5,500 families. The project also contributes towards the provision of food, shelter and other necessities for nearly 150,000 Burmese refugees in Thailand, supports improved access to legal assistance for refugees in camps in Thailand, and finances the purchase of medical supplies which benefit people affected by conflict in eastern Burma.
	In the financial year 2010-11 the project spent £2.7 million, representing just over 8% of DFID's funding for Burma.

Central America: Storms

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance his Department has given to those affected by the recent tropical depression in Central America.

Alan Duncan: DFID is monitoring the crisis closely. Essential humanitarian assistance is being provided by the Governments and national relief agencies of affected countries, supported by the international community, including the UN and the International Federation of the Red Cross. UK assistance is being provided through the core contributions DFID makes each year to the UN's global emergency relief fund and to the international Red Cross movement.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Asylum

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum claims are outstanding; and from which countries the applicants in those cases came.

Damian Green: The number of asylum applications made since April 2006 pending an initial decision or further review, excluding dependants, as at 31 August 2011 was 10,810. Of these 10,810 asylum cases, 5,655 were pending an initial decision and 5,155 were pending further review. A copy of the table disaggregated by country of nationality will be placed in the Library of the House.
	Total figures for the number of asylum applications awaiting an initial decision or further review are published monthly in monthly asylum statistics. Further information on asylum is available from the immigration statistics release available in the Library of the House and the Home Office Science website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/science-research/research-statistics/migration/migration-statistics1/
	The UK Border Agency also publishes additional “work in progress caseload” figures annually, which include cases that are subject to removal action, as part of the asylum performance framework measures. This is available from the UK Border Agency website at:
	http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/aboutus/further-key-data/

Asylum: EU Countries

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many asylum seekers have been transferred to another EU member state under the Dublin Regulation in each year since the regulation came into effect; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  how many asylum seekers have been found to have (a) already applied for asylum in another EU member state or (b) illegally transited through the EU after referring their fingerprints to Eurodac, in each year since Eurodac was established to date; and if she will make a statement.

Damian Green: The information requested is shown in the following table:
	
		
			 Calendar year Number of applicants with positive Eurodac fingerprint matches with other member states (1) Transfers to other member states under the Dublin Regulation (2) 
			 2003 893 1,377 
			 2004 2,486 1,904 
			 2005 2,054 1,924 
			 2006 2,334 1,663 
			 2007 2,330 1,157 
			 2008 3,444 1,246 
			 2009 3,917 1,005 
			 2010 2,204 1,162 
			 2011 (to 31 October 2011 1,870 883 
			 Total 21,532 12,321 
			 (1) We are unable to breakdown the figures for Eurodac fingerprint matches between those who were asylum seekers in another member state and who had illegally transited through Europe. (2 )This figure represents all transfers under the Dublin Regulation, as such it includes people who have not claimed asylum in the UK, however these applicants would have claimed asylum in another member state.

Criminal Records

Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she has considered conducting an independent review on the amendment of an individual's criminal records where there is substantial evidence in support of removing the item in instances where failure to remove it would mean the individual is unable to take up employment.

Lynne Featherstone: holding answer 14 November 2011
	On 22 October 2010, the Secretary of State for the Home Department, my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), commissioned the Government's Independent Advisor for Criminality Information Management, Mrs. Sunita Mason, to conduct a review of the criminal records regime in England and Wales. Mrs. Mason has completed her review and passed recommendations for improvements to Home Office Ministers.
	The Government have included provisions to reflect a number of these recommendations in the Protection of Freedoms Bill, including a new independent right of appeal so that an individual can appeal against the inclusion of information on a disclosure certificate if they believe it should not be there.
	The second phase of the review includes consideration of what capacity individuals should have to access, challenge and correct their own criminal records. The report on the second phase is expected to be published towards the end of the year, together with a Government response to all the recommendations from the review.

Departmental Manpower

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many UK Border Agency staff moved to a different post in that agency in the last 12 month period for which figures are available.

Damian Green: It is not possible, except at disproportionate cost, to provide an account of post-by- post movement within the UK Border Agency.

Departmental Manpower

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many airport liaison officers are employed by the UK Border Agency; and what their average annual salary is.

Damian Green: The UK Border Agency employs 112 immigration liaison officers and immigration liaison managers with salaries ranging from £15,386 to £37,964. These figures do not include overseas allowances.

Departmental Manpower

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many UK Border Agency staff were based in each overseas country on 1 November 2011.

Damian Green: The number of UK Border Agency staff based in each overseas country is shown in the following table, with the exception that details of small locations are not shown for data protection and security reasons.
	The information is not available at 1 November 2011 except at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			 UK Border Agency work force based abroad by country Full-time equivalent work force at date shown (1) 
			 UK Border Agency work force based abroad (1) , excluding International Group  below , 30 September 2011  
			 Belgium 30 
			 France 75 
			   
			 International Group work force abroad (2) , 30 September 2011  
			 India 252 
			 United Arab Emirates 176 
			 Nigeria 146 
			 Pakistan 88 
			 China 88 
			 South Africa 72 
			 Philippines 59 
			 Unites States of America 57 
			 Russia 52 
			 Turkey 46 
			 Kenya 41 
			 Bangladesh 40 
			 Ghana 39 
			 Thailand 36 
			 China (Hong Kong) 30 
			 Italy 24 
			 Egypt 24 
			 France 23 
			 Iran 22 
			 Columbia 18 
			 Jamaica 18 
			 Jordan 18 
			 Ukraine 18 
			 Saudi Arabia 15 
			 Sri Lanka 14 
			 Spain 13 
			 Malaysia 13 
			 Poland 13 
			 Serbia 11 
			 Brazil 10 
			 Canada 9 
			 Indonesia 9 
			 Kuwait 9 
			 Albania 8 
		
	
	
		
			 Ireland 8 
			 Kasikistan 8 
			 Morocco 8 
			 Macedonia 7 
			 Qatar 7 
			 Sweden 7 
			 Ethiopia 6 
			 Australia 6 
			 Work force based in countries having 5 or fewer staff 143 
			 Total of International Group staff abroad, above 1,709 
			 Total of all UK Border Agency based abroad 1,814 
			 (1) Figure given is for work force based abroad and excludes staff who may work abroad but are based in the United Kingdom. (2 )The majority of the staff shown are locally engaged by Foreign and Commonwealth Office and are deployed on UK Border Agency work whose costs are invoiced to the UK Border Agency. The figures include UK based staff posted abroad. The figures do not include temporary workers. Note: It is UK Border Agency policy not to disclose staff figures which would identify blocks of staff below or equal to 5 as this could in some circumstances identify individuals.

Departmental Manpower

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff there were at each grade in the UK Border Agency on the latest date for which figures are available.

Damian Green: The information requested is given in the following table:
	
		
			 Workforce by grades 30 September 2011 FTE (1) 
			 Senior civil service 60 
			 Grade 6 167 
			 Grade 7 514 
			 HM Inspector's of Immigration (equivalent to SEO) 223 
			 Senior Executive Officers (SEO) 1,078 
			 Chief Immigration Officers (HEO) 818 
			 Higher Executive Officers (HEO) 2,205 
			 Executive Officers (EO) 3,351 
			 Former HMRC grades equivalent to EO (EO) 3,233 
			 Immigration Officers (EO) 2107 
			 Assistant Immigration Officers (AO) 1,821 
			 Administrative Officers (AO) 3,135 
			 Assistant Administrative Officers (AA) 1,289 
			 Locally engaged abroad LE1 28 
			 Locally engaged abroad LE2 174 
			 Locally engaged abroad LE3 615 
			 Locally engaged abroad LE4 375 
			 Locally engaged abroad LE5 37 
			 Temporary workers engaged abroad(2) 200 
			 Contractors, including inward seconded police. 187 
			 Agency workers where grade is not centrally recorded 25 
			 UK Border Agency total 21,642 
			 (1) Full-time equivalent FTE. (2) This figure is estimated on the basis of August numbers. 
		
	
	This information is taken from data normally used for management information only. It has not been subject to the detailed checks that apply for National Statistics publications, is provisional and subject to change.

Departmental Manpower

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost has been of the staff reduction scheme at the UK Border Agency over the last 18 months.

Damian Green: Available costs for voluntary exit schemes in the last two financial years to 31 March 2011 may be found in the UK Border Agency Annual Reports 2009-10 and 2010-11 here:
	http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/aboutus/annual-reports-accounts/
	For ease of reference the figures are summarised in the following table:
	
		
			  2010-11 2009-10 
			 Total number of exit packages 1,186 112 
			    
			 Costs in £000   
			 Lump Sum Payments (£) 29,216 2,232 
			 Additional Pension Costs (£) 26,963 5,305 
			 Total resource cost (£) 56,179 7,537

Deportation

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much the UK Border Agency spent on (a) scheduled air flights and (b) charter flights to carry out deportations in each of the last 24 months.

Damian Green: The UK Border Agency monthly spend since November 2009 on scheduled flights for removals is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  £ 
			 2009  
			 November 1,477,008.57 
			 December 1,601,513.81 
			   
			 2010  
			 January 1,401,829.60 
			 February 1,487,431.91 
			 March 1,524,651.36 
			 April 1,497,952.66 
			 May 1,445,998.87 
			 June 1,343,173.26 
			 July 2,210,193.11 
			 August 1,912,613.42 
			 September 2,569,642.84 
			 October 1,694,158.62 
			 November 2,299,273.81 
			 December 1,895,906.76 
			   
			 2011  
			 January 400,174.54 
			 February 768,587.46 
			 March 1,593,606.90 
			 April 1,614,095.36 
			 May 778,128.19 
			 June 1,532,643.14 
			 July 2,062,739.60 
			 August 1,408,311.80 
			 September 1,733,394.85 
			 October 1,838,016.64 
		
	
	
		
			 Total 38,091,047.08 
		
	
	The above figures represent a net spend, which is a live figure and decreases as refunds are made against flights which are cancelled, such as where a court issues a temporary injunction preventing removal, or an individual makes a last minute application which has to be considered before removal can proceed.
	The UK Border Agency monthly spend on chartered flights since November 2009 is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  £ 
			 2009  
			 November 820,287.93 
			 December 744,425.00 
			   
			 2010  
			 January 492,495.00 
			 February 861,022.09 
			 March 942,123.00 
			 April 469,367.50 
			 May 786,785.00 
			 June 976,972.90 
			 July 895,145.00 
			 August 590,207.27 
			 September 562,192.39 
			 October 792,179.19 
			 November 952,227.08 
			 December 265,466.54 
			   
			 2011  
			 January 276,625.66 
			 February 538,024.81 
			 March 988,362.34 
			 April 750,794.19 
			 May 496,099.28 
			 June 1,172,991.52 
			 July 727,743.87 
			 August 484,496.58 
			 September 683,308.06 
			 October 564,132.18 
		
	
	Neither set of figures constitute part of National Statistics as they are based on internal management information. The information has not been quality assured under National Statistics protocols and should be treated as provisional and subject to change.

Deportation

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individuals deported by the UK Border Agency were accompanied by (a) officials and (b) contractors on their removal from the UK in the latest period for which figures are available.

Damian Green: The UK Border Agency uses private companies to escort individuals being removed from the UK where they refuse to leave compliantly, they are vulnerable (such as having a medical condition which requires the presence of a medical escort) or they are being removed on a chartered flight.
	At least one UK Border Agency member of staff accompanies every chartered flight leaving the United Kingdom.
	For the period April to June 2011, the latest period for which figures are available, 408 people were removed on chartered flights.
	For the same period, of 3,850 individuals removed from the UK on leaving immigration detention, 669 were escorted on scheduled flights.

Deportation: Complaints

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) complaints and (b) claims have been made by (i) males and (ii) females of each nationality in each age group against her Department and its agencies and contractors as a result of alleged injuries and assaults sustained during the enforcement of deportation orders in each of the last five years; and what the location was of each alleged incident.

Damian Green: Complaints made by individuals detained in immigration removal centres or being removed from the UK have been centrally collated since December 2008. Information prior to this date is not available. The question has been interpreted as relating to the number of complaints and claims made that an incident allegedly took place during the removal process. All complaints are investigated and where there is an allegation of assault, the matter is referred to the police.
	The number of complaints where an individual has alleged assault during an enforced removal are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of complaints 
			 December 2008 n/a 
			 December 2009 33 
			 December 2010 41 
			 December 2011 (to 9 November) 26 
			 n/a = Not available. 
		
	
	These figures are based on management information, which is subject to change, and does not form part of our publicised statistics.
	Information on claims and a distinction between gender, nationality, age group and location cannot be provided without examination of individual complaint records and individual legal files at disproportionate cost.

Detention Centres: Children

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her speech of 16 December 2010, what progress she has made on her proposal to end the detention of children for immigration purposes.

Damian Green: In December 2010 the Government published their plans for ending detention of children in a way which protects the welfare of children while ensuring that families with no right to remain in the country leave the UK.
	On 1 March 2011 the UK Border Agency rolled out a new family returns process to achieve this. This process gives families every opportunity to leave without the need for enforcement action and offers financial or practical assistance where appropriate.
	Where families choose not to co-operate, the UK Border Agency will take steps to ensure that they leave. In every case the Border Agency must submit a tailored family returns plan to a new independent Family Returns Panel comprising safeguarding and medical experts who advise on how the welfare of the children can best be safeguarded during the return.
	Return plans may include a strictly time-limited stay in new family-friendly pre-departure accommodation, Cedars, where Barnardo’s provide welfare and support services to help families prepare for their return. This is used as a last resort.
	Tinsley House immigration removal centre remains in use for families intercepted at the border who are being held while arrangements are made for their immediate return and, in rare cases, for criminal and other high risk families who cannot be safely accommodated in pre-departure accommodation.
	Details of the numbers of children held on this basis are published at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/science-research-statistics/research-statistics/immigration-asylum-research/child-detention-sep2011
	As set out on 16 December 2010, families may be held at ports for up to 24 hours to determine whether they should be admitted to the country or removed on a return flight.

Harassment: Victim Support Schemes

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what services and support are routinely available to victims of stalking or harassment in England and Wales.

Lynne Featherstone: The Home Office is working closely with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) to provide appropriate support to victims of stalking. I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 24 May 2011, Official Report, column 522W, in which I highlighted our victim support initiatives, which included the appointment of dedicated single points of contact (SPOCs) in each police force area.
	On 8 March 2011 the Home Office published its action plan for tackling violence against women and girls for the spending review period, which included seven actions to tackle stalking. As part of this we committed to continue to fund the National Stalking Helpline over the spending review period. We have worked with them to develop their business plan and supported their launch (in April 2010) of an online forum to provide support and advice for victims of stalking. We are also running a series of regional events to raise awareness of stalking and have invited the helpline to participate in four awareness-raising events we are running across the country.
	We also strongly supported the recent National Stalking Awareness Week (11-15 April 2010) jointly organised by the three main charities that work to prevent stalking: Protection Against Stalking, the Suzy Lamplugh Trust and Network for Surviving Stalking.

Identity and Passport Service

Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment her Department has made of the potential effects of reductions in staff numbers at the Identity and Passport Service (IPS) on (a) passport security and (b) the ability of IPS offices to meet their targets for passport production.

Damian Green: holding answer 14 November 2011
	There have been regular and ongoing assessments against forecast passport demand and resource requirements. Based on these assessments, the reduction that the Identity and Passport Service has made in its staffing will not impact upon passport security or its ability to meet its targets for passport production.

Immigration

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many immigration officers her Department employs overseas to screen passengers of inbound flights to the UK at airports (a) in and (b) outside the EU.

Damian Green: The number of immigration liaison officers and immigration liaison managers employed and who work overseas at airports screening passengers of inbound flights to the UK as at November 2011 is set out in the following table:
	
		
			  Number 
			 EU countries 23 
			 Non-EU countries 89 
			 Total 112 
		
	
	These data are based on management information. They are provisional and subject to change.

Immigration: Romania

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she expects the migration advisory committee to report on the easing of restrictions on residents of Romania and Bulgaria entering the UK to work.

Damian Green: The committee published its report on 4 November. The report can be found on the UK Border Agency website at:
	www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/mac

Knives: Crime

Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many knife crimes were reported in (a) Wallasey constituency, (b) the Wirral, (c) the North West region, (d) England and (e) the UK in (i) 2011 and (ii) each of the last five years.

Nick Herbert: holding answer 14 November 2011
	Data for selected offences involving the use of a knife or sharp instrument have been collected by the Home Office since April 2007 and are therefore only available over the past four years. Additionally, knife crime data are published on a financial year basis and not calendar year. From these data, it is not possible to identify which offences specifically involve the use of a knife.
	Data are collected at police force area level only, so data are not available for the Wallasey constituency or the Wirral. The collection of police recorded data for Scotland and Northern Ireland is a matter for the devolved Administrations.
	In 2007-08, the selected offences included: attempted murder, grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent, GBH without intent and robbery. The collection was expanded in 2008-09 to also include actual bodily harm (ABH), threats to kill, sexual assault and rape offences. Therefore figures are not comparable with those offences recorded in 2007-08.
	Until April 2010, West Midlands police had included unbroken bottle and glass offences in their returns. Since April 2010, they have excluded these offences in line with other police forces. As such, their 2010-11 data are not comparable with their data for earlier years and therefore data for England are provided including and excluding figures for West Midlands.
	Data for 2007-08 to 2010-11 are provided in table A.
	Data for homicides involving the use of a knife or sharp instrument are collected via the Homicide Index. Data for 2010-11 will be available at police force area level from January 2012. Data for 2005-06 to 2009-10 are provided in table B.
	
		
			 Table A: Number of selected violent and sexual offences (1)  involving a knife or sharp instrument recorded by police forces in Merseyside, the North West, England and Wales, 2007-08 to 2010-11 
			 Area 2007-08 (2) 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 
			 Merseyside 757 892 798 587 
			 North West 3,629 4,998 4,163 3,681 
			 England(3) 24,110 34,806 32,568 31,524 
			 England (Excl. West Midlands)(4) 20,939 31,124 29,352 28,526 
			 Wales 899 928 765 733 
			 (1) Police recorded knife and sharp instrument offences data are submitted via an additional special collection. Other offences exist that are not shown in this table that may include the use of a knife or sharp instrument. (2) The collection was expanded in 2008-09 to include actual bodily harm (ABH), threats to kill, sexual assault and rape offences. Therefore figures are not comparable with those offences recorded in 2007-08. (3) Figures for England include unbroken bottle and glass offences, which are outside the scope of this special collection, for Surrey and Sussex police. As such, data for these forces are not directly comparable to data for other forces. (4) Data are shown excluding West Midlands as West Midlands included unbroken bottle and glass offences in their returns until April 2010 but now exclude these offences in line with other forces. As such, their 2010-11 data are not comparable with their data for earlier years. 
		
	
	
		
			 Table B: Offences currently recorded (1)  as homicide which involved the use of a knife or sharp instrument, police forces in Merseyside, the North West, England and Wales, 2005-06 to 2009-10 
			 Area 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 
			 Merseyside 10 10 9 11 8 
			 North West 29 32 42 42 30 
			 England 218 259 256 244 198 
			 Wales 7 11 11 11 11 
			 (1) As at 28 September 2010; figures are subject to revision as cases are dealt with by the police and by the courts, or as further information becomes available.

Knives: Crime

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment she has made of the level of knife crime in the West Midlands.

Nick Herbert: West Midlands police recorded 2,998 selected serious offences involving a knife or sharp instrument in 2010-11 and 3,216 of these offences in 2009-10. The group of offences covered includes: attempted murder, threats to kill, actual bodily harm (ABH) and grievous bodily harm (GBH), robbery, rape and sexual assaults. 2009-10 data include unbroken bottle and glass offences.
	These data are published in police force area data tables—Crime in England and Wales 2010-11 (tables 9 and 10) at the link as follows:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk
	Additionally, West Midlands police recorded nine homicides involving the use of a knife or sharp instrument in 2009-10. Force level homicide data by method of killing are not routinely published but data for 2010-11 will be available in January 2012.

Members: Correspondence

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to respond to the letter of 1 August 2011 from the hon. Member for Basildon and Billericay regarding Mr Frank Tomlin, reference M13670/11.

Nick Herbert: holding answer 10 November 2011
	A reply was sent to my hon. Friend on 9 November 2011.

Police Community Support Officers: Wales

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what funding her Department plans to allocate to police community support officers in Wales in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13 and (c) 2013-14.

Nick Herbert: holding answer 14 November 2011
	The Government will continue to support the role of police community support officers through the dedicated Neighbourhood Policing Fund until 2012-13, after which it will be for the democratically elected Police and Crime Commissioner, in consultation with the Chief Constable, to take decisions on the funding and resourcing of neighbourhood policing.
	The following table sets out the Neighbourhood Policing Fund allocations for Welsh forces in 2011-12 and 2012-13.
	
		
			 Neighbourhood policing fund allocations for Welsh forces in 2011-12 and 2012-13 
			 £ 
			 Force Allocation 2011-12 Allocation 2012-13 
			 Dyfed-Powys 1,646,340 1,636,655 
			 Gwent 2,962,697 2,945,269 
			 North Wales 3,337,809 3,318,175 
			 South Wales 6,728,610 6,689,030

Police: Buildings

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many buildings used or owned by police forces are scheduled for closure in each of the police authority areas in Wales.

Nick Herbert: This information is not collected centrally. Decisions about resources are for chief constables to take locally with their police authorities.

Police: Manpower

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police (a) constables, (b) sergeants and (c) inspectors were employed at each pay band in (i) 2007, (ii) 2009 and (iii) 2011.

Nick Herbert: Available data show the number of police constables, sergeants and inspectors employed in England and Wales, their salaries by top and bottom points on the pay scale in England and Wales for 2007, 2009 and 2011.
	The information is given in the table.
	
		
			 N umber (1)  of police constables, sergeants and inspectors employed, and salaries for England and Wales , 2007, 2009 and 2011 by pay scale  (2, 3, 4) 
			  Police constables Police sergeants Police inspectors 
			 31 March  each year Number of police constables (1) Top of the pay scale  (£) Bottom of the pay scale  (£) Number of police sergeants (1) Top of the pay scale  (£) Bottom of the pay scale  (£) Number of police inspectors (1) Top of the pay scale  (£) Bottom of the pay scale  (£) 
			 2007 109,400 32,985 21,009 21,949 37,071 32,985 7,034 45,843 42,264 
			 2009 110,080 34,707 22,104 22,664 39,006 34,707 7,398 48,234 44,469 
			 2011 106,609 36,519 23,259 22,265 41,040 36,519 6,764 50,751 46,788 
			 (1) Full-time equivalent figures that have been rounded to the nearest whole number. (2) Pay scale information for 2007 is as at 31 March 2007, reflecting salaries applicable from 1 September 2006. (3) Pay scale information for 2009 is as at 31 March 2009, reflecting salaries applicable from 1 September 2008. (4 )Pay scale information for 2011 is as at 31 March 2011, reflecting salaries applicable from 1 September 2010. These are the current salaries.

UK Border Agency: Finance

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions she has had with the chief inspector of the UK Border Agency (UKBA) on changes in the UKBA’s budget.

Damian Green: The Secretary of State for the Home Department, my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), has had no discussions with the independent chief inspector of the UK Border Agency on changes in the agency’s budget.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Parliamentary Reform

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what timetable he has set for implementation of his proposed reforms in respect of (a) the House of Lords and (b) creating fewer and more equal-sized parliamentary constituencies.

Mark Harper: After pre-legislative scrutiny, we will introduce a Government Bill in the next session of Parliament and are committed to holding the first elections to the reformed House of Lords on 7 May 2015. After extensive consultations, the Boundary Commissions are required to submit their final recommendations to Ministers before 1 October 2013.

Parliamentary Reform

Penny Mordaunt: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent representations he has received on House of Lords reform.

Mark Harper: The Government continue to receive a number of representations on reform of the House of Lords, with the majority calling for change to its composition.

Voter Registration

Clive Betts: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the potential effect on levels of voter registration of not creating a legal offence of failure to return an individual electoral registration request.

Nicholas Clegg: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent (Nick Smith) in oral questions earlier today.

Electoral Register

Simon Kirby: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to improve the completeness and accuracy of the electoral register.

Mark Harper: The UK Government want the maximum possible number of people on the electoral register and are considering a number of ways to help improve registration in the context of the move to individual electoral registration. The Government, politicians, political parties, electoral administrators and others in society all have a role to play in encouraging participation.
	We have learnt from the experience in Northern Ireland and are phasing in individual electoral registration over two years. We want it to be as easy as possible to register, while keeping the register more accurate and up to date. Under our proposed system, people will be invited to register in 2014 and will receive a number of reminders, which will include doorstep visits.
	The Government are also funding research to understand the current state of the electoral register, and we will be carrying out further research to find the best ways to target and encourage the groups we know are currently under-registered to register to vote.

Electoral Register

Gordon Henderson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to improve the completeness and accuracy of the electoral register.

Mark Harper: The UK Government want the maximum possible number of people on the electoral register and are considering a number of ways to help improve registration in the context of the move to individual electoral registration.
	The Government, politicians, political parties, electoral administrators and others in society all have a role to play in encouraging participation. We have learnt from the experience in Northern Ireland and are phasing in individual electoral registration over two years. We want it to be as easy as possible to register, while keeping the register more accurate and up to date. Under our proposed system, people will be invited to register in 2014 and will receive a number of reminders, including doorstep visits.
	The Government are also funding research to understand the current state of the electoral register, and we will be carrying out further research to find the best ways to target and encourage the groups we know are currently under-registered to register to vote.

Devolution

Andrew George: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to take further steps in respect of devolution.

Nicholas Clegg: The Government are overseeing a fundamental shift of power away from Westminster to local councils, communities and individuals in England. In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland we are committed to working constructively with the devolved Administrations to make devolution a success.

Succession to the Throne

Bob Russell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent discussions he has had on changes to the law on succession to the throne; and if he will make a statement.

Nicholas Clegg: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Gainsborough (Mr Leigh) in oral questions earlier today.

News International

John McDonnell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what meetings he has had with representatives of News International; and whether the BBC licence fee settlement was discussed at any such meeting.

Nicholas Clegg: A list of my official meetings with external organisations, including representatives of the media, is published quarterly and can be found on the Cabinet Office website
	www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/ministerial-gifts-hospitality-travel-and-meetings-external-organisations
	I have not discussed the BBC licence fee settlement with representatives of News International.

CABINET OFFICE

Charities: Hospices

Gary Streeter: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what steps his Department has taken to reduce the burden of regulation on independent charitable hospices.

Nick Hurd: The review of the Charities Act 2006 announced by myself on 8 November 2011, which will be led by Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts, will consider a broad range of issues, including the definition of charity and the role and status of the Charity Commission as the sector's regulator. It will also look at further reducing the burden of regulation whilst preserving safeguards that protect the public interest. ‘Unshackling Good Neighbours’, the report of the Civil Society Red Tape Taskforce, which was chaired by Lord Hodgson, made a number of recommendations that will help charities, for example by simplifying the rules governing public charitable collections and reviewing the law regarding charitable permanent endowment, which I anticipate will be considered by the review.
	The other key regulator of charitable hospices is the Care Quality Commission, which, under the Health and Social Care Act 2008, has a duty to ensure that any action it takes is proportionate to the risks against which it would afford safeguards and is targeted only where it is needed. The Care Quality Commission is currently consulting on proposals to simplify and strengthen its regulatory model of monitoring and inspecting providers of regulated activities.

Charities: Hospices

Gary Streeter: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what assessment he has made of the regulation of charitable hospices; and whether he has plans to take steps in respect of any duplication in regulation in the sector.

Nick Hurd: The Charity Commission has advised that there is only one area where its regulation duplicates that of another regulator. Charities that are also companies limited by guarantee have to submit similar returns to the Charity Commission and Companies House. Those regulators have agreed to work together to identify and analyse potential solutions to this duplication.

Design Services

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what contracts his Department has awarded for design services since May 2010; and what information his Department holds on the location of such companies.

Francis Maude: The information requested for Cabinet Office is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	Since January 2011, contracts over £10,000 in value are published on Contracts Finder.

Departmental Responsibilities

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office at how many events organised by (a) charities, (b) other civil society groups, (c) businesses and (d) lobbying organisations Ministers and senior officials in his Department have given speeches in each month since May 2010; and if he will make a statement.

Francis Maude: The information is not held in the form requested.
	Ministerial meetings with external organisations are published at:
	http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/ministerial-gifts-hospitality-travel-and-meetings-external-organisations
	Permanent secretaries' meetings are published at:
	http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/cabinet-office-permanent-secretaries%E2%80%99-meetings-external-organisations
	A series of speeches by Cabinet Office Ministers can be found at:
	http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/news/type/96

European Union

Douglas Alexander: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many ministerial-level meetings have been held in his Department during the Government's examination of the balance of existing European Union competences.

Francis Maude: The Department routinely hosts ministerial meetings on issues covered in the coalition agreement.

European Union

Douglas Alexander: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many members of staff in his Department are working on the Government's examination of the balance of existing European Union competences.

Francis Maude: The examination of these issues draws on existing resources.

Government Departments: Internet

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what discussions he has had with Internet and social media service providers on modernising Government services in each month since May 2010; and if he will make a statement.

Francis Maude: I have not had any specific discussions with internet or social media service providers about modernising Government services.
	However, since May 2010 I have had regular discussions with Martha Lane Fox, the UK Digital Champion, and informal discussions with the former chief executive of Amazon.co.uk.
	In addition, throughout this time I have attended a number of events with delegates from internet and social media providers in order to progress and promote the Government's ‘Digital by Default’ strategy, which will assist in modernising Government services.

Members’ Interests

John Mann: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office for what reasons his Department has not updated the list of Ministers' interests since February 2011; and on what date he expects an updated list to be published.

Francis Maude: holding answer 14 November 2011
	The list is being updated to reflect recent ministerial changes and an updated version will be published shortly.

Public Sector: Carbon Emissions

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office whether his Department plans to offer assistance to the 2011 Carbon Disclosure Project in compiling its latest Public Procurement Report.

Francis Maude: The Cabinet Office has no plans to offer assistance to the 2011 Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) in compiling its latest Public Procurement Report.
	However, the Government Procurement Service will shortly be commencing an exercise to procure a supplier data verification tool. Presently, the scope of the tool is intended to include sustainability data relating to carbon waste and water, information assurance data, and supply chain assurance data relating to SMEs. Any company within the industry that has the capability of providing such a tool will be able to bid for the opportunity.
	CDP may well have an interest in bidding.

Public Sector: Dangerous Dogs

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office whether his Department holds information on the number of public sector staff injured in dangerous dog attacks in the course of their duties.

Francis Maude: The Cabinet Office does not collect this information centrally for the civil service or the wider public sector.

Voluntary Work: Young People

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 17 October 2011, Official Report, column 737W, on voluntary work: young people, how much funding he has allocated to each National Citizen Service pilot that will operate in summer 2012; and how many places will be provided by each such pilot.

Nick Hurd: The Cabinet Office is currently running a commissioning process for NCS places in 2012. The Cabinet Office will be in a position to confirm the funding and number of NCS places allocated to each provider in 2012 once the commissioning process has concluded.

Voluntary Work: Young People

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 17 October 2011, Official Report, column 737W, on voluntary work: young people, how many young people participated in each National Citizen Service pilot in summer 2011.

Nick Hurd: National Citizen Service (NCS) pilot projects take place during the summer and we estimate that over 8,000 young people took part in NCS this summer. The independent evaluation of the first pilots is currently examining the number of participants on this summer's pilots and the numbers retained throughout the projects. The Cabinet Office will be in a position to provide those details once they are available later in the autumn.

Voluntary Work: Young People

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 22 June 2011, Official Report, column 370W, on voluntary work: young people, how many young people (a) registered an interest and (b) signed up to participate in the 2011 National Citizen Service pilots; and how many young people have (i) registered an interest and (ii) signed up to participate in such pilots in 2012.

Nick Hurd: National Citizen Service pilots were delivered in a range of locations across England in its first pilot year. Data provided to the Cabinet Office by National Citizen Service delivery partners indicated that at 17 June 2011 the following numbers of young people had registered their details in each region.
	
		
			 Region Number of young people registered 
			 North-east 6,922 
			 North-west 4,176 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 981 
			 West midlands 7,433 
			 East midlands 425 
			 East of England 1,188 
			 South-west 833 
			 London 9,396 
			 Total 32,284 
		
	
	The independent evaluation of the first pilots is currently examining the number of participants on this summer's pilots and the numbers retained throughout the projects. The Cabinet Office will be in a position to provide those details once they are available later in the autumn.
	The Cabinet Office is currently running a commissioning process for NCS places in 2012. The independent evaluation of the second pilot will examine the number of participants on the pilot and the numbers retained through the projects. The Cabinet Office will be in a position to provide these details later in 2012.

TRANSPORT

A14: Suffolk

Therese Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when she expects all the information signs on the A14 in Suffolk to be brought into use.

Michael Penning: The A14 corridor traffic management scheme has installed 31 message signs within the county of Suffolk, 26 of which are available for use. Of the remaining five signs, two are programmed for commissioning to start on 24 November 2011. The remaining three signs are delayed due to wayleave disputes between Ipswich borough council and UK Power Networks, which are preventing the provision of power supplies.

Aviation: Alcoholic Drinks

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the blood alcohol limit is for aviation pilots.

Theresa Villiers: holding answer 14 November 2011
	I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Crawley (Henry Smith) on 8 November 2011, Official Report, column 186W.

Biofuels

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment she has made of the safety of ethanol as an additive to fuel; and what assessment she has made of its effects on engines and engine components.

Norman Baker: Ethanol has a long history of use as a petrol fuel additive. Commercial grades of ethanol-petrol blends are reported to have been marketed in the UK from the 1920s to the 1960s. However, it was not until 1988 that British Standards explicitly defined an upper limit (of 5%) on the ethanol content of petrol, in order to ensure compatibility of vehicle components and fuels. Any vehicles or products supplied for use in fuel systems since then should be compatible with this limit, 5% ethanol being the maximum that fuel suppliers currently use to meet their Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation targets (currently 4%, rising to 5% in 2013-14). Pumps dispensing any petrol containing more than 5% ethanol are required by law to be labelled “Not suitable for all vehicles: consult vehicle manufacturer before use”.
	At some point in the future biofuel uptake targets in the Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation will need to be increased to meet our EU obligations. However, in view of the fact that the evidence base on biofuels is still developing, the Government have taken the view that it would be premature to increase the targets beyond the 2013-14 target of 5% at present. Nevertheless, it is likely that 10% ethanol blends will be marketed in the future and so the Department commissioned research on the compatibility of different ethanol blends on fuel systems and the risks of carburettor icing. This research is published on the Department's website.
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/publications/qinetiq-10-02471
	The Government will work with fuel suppliers and vehicle manufacturers to ensure information is available to motorists on which vehicles are compatible with 10% ethanol before it is introduced on a widespread basis.

Caravans: Testing

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether she plans to require caravans to have an MOT; and if she will make a statement.

Michael Penning: No. There are no plans to introduce annual testing (MOTs) for towed caravans.

Cycling: Accidents

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps her Department is taking to reduce the number of road traffic accidents involving cyclists.

Michael Penning: I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 10 October 2011, Official Report, column 110W. In addition, the Minister responsible for cycling policy, the hon. Member for Lewes (Norman Baker), has recently established a cycling stakeholder forum which will, among other things, be looking into how best to tackle the issue of real and perceived danger of cycling.

Dartford-Thurrock Crossing

Jackie Doyle-Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of the likely effect of a road crossing at Silvertown on traffic volumes at the Dartford crossing.

Michael Penning: The Department for Transport has not undertaken an assessment of the likely effect on traffic volumes at the Dartford-Thurrock river crossing from a road crossing at Silvertown.
	Responsibility for river crossings within the Greater London Authority area are for Transport for London, as would the assessment of impacts from any specific crossing proposals.

Dartford-Thurrock Crossing: Tolls

Jackie Doyle-Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of the effect of the proposed increase in tolls at the Dartford crossing on traffic volume using the (a) Blackwall tunnel, (b) Rotherhithe tunnel and (c) Woolwich ferry.

Michael Penning: The Department for Transport has not undertaken a specific assessment of the effects on traffic volumes at Blackwall tunnel, Rotherhithe tunnel or the Woolwich ferry from increased charges at the Dartford-Thurrock river crossing.
	The Department published in June 2011, alongside its consultation document on revisions to the road user charging regime, an assessment of the impacts of its proposals. This recognised that roads to which traffic diverts would be more congested.
	The Department intends to revise its assessment of the impacts of its proposals following the recent completion of the consultation process and consideration of the responses made to it.

Advertising: Job Vacancies

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much her Department has spent on advertising job vacancies since May 2010.

Norman Baker: The Department and its seven Executive Agencies have spent £273,611 on advertising to fill job vacancies since May 2010.

Highways Agency: Manpower

Jackie Doyle-Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many staff the Highways Agency employs at (a) its London office and (b) each regional office.

Michael Penning: Details of the staff the Highways Agency employs in its London and regional offices are provided in the following table.
	
		
			 Office location Number of  s taff 
			 Buckingham Palace Road, London 61 
			 Woodlands, Bedford 260 
			 Broadway, Birmingham 13 
			 The Cube, Birmingham 551 
			 Temple Quay House, Bristol 179 
			 Federated House, Dorking 207 
			 Ash House, Exeter 51 
			 Lateral, Leeds 271 
			 Piccadilly Gate, Manchester 210 
			 Quinton National Traffic Operations Centre 52 
			 South Mimms Regional Control Centre 129 
			 East Midlands Regional Control Centre 49 
		
	
	
		
			 Calder Park Regional Control Centre 64 
			 Newton-Le-Willows Regional Control Centre 123 
			 Godstone Regional Control Centre 66 
			 Avonmouth Regional Control Centre 46 
			 Quinton Regional Control Centre 76 
			 Total 2,408 
		
	
	The Highways Agency also has an additional 1,129 members of staff based at 33 outstations across the country.

Highways Agency: Operating Costs

Jackie Doyle-Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the cost to the public purse was of running each regional office of the Highways Agency in each of the last three years.

Michael Penning: The cost of running the Highways Agency regional offices is detailed in the following table.
	
		
			 £ 
			 Office location 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 
			 Bedford 2,042,088 2,025,041 1,917,806 
			 Birmingham 3,425,008 3,312,743 2,985,121 
			 Bristol 1,343,560 1,438,649 1,390,186 
			 Dorking 618,954 666,175 611,780 
			 Exeter 371,695 331,691 502,794 
			 Leeds 2,387,305 1,464,560 1,131,457 
			 London 1,409,907 854,682 1,373,996 
			 Manchester 1,827,906 1,460,400 2,175,382 
			 East Midlands Regional Control Centre 726,901 736,539 824,526 
			 South Mimms Regional Control Centre 765,984 640,010 622,735 
			 Calder Park Regional Control Centre 1,092,515 1,115,413 1,130,116 
			 Newton-Le-Willows Regional Control Centre 733,411 791,433 790,058 
			 Godstone Regional Control Centre 692,836 675,834 674,420 
			 Avonmouth Regional Control Centre 877,792 843,446 883,430 
			 Quinton Regional Control Centre 1,109,733 1,158,224 1,103,857

Invalid Vehicles

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans she has to amend the specification of class 1, 2 and 3 invalid vehicles as defined by the Road Traffic Act 1988; and if she will make a statement.

Norman Baker: There are no plans to amend regulations relating to class 1 ‘invalid carriages’ (manual wheelchairs). As part of the Department for Transport’s review of the use of powered mobility vehicles, I have asked my officials to undertake further work with transport operators, the mobility vehicles industry and user groups on a range of issues relating to the use of class 2 and class 3 ‘invalid carriages’ (mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs).
	I would also refer the hon. Member to my answer to the hon. Member for Bury South (Mr Lewis) of 26 October 2011, Official Report, column 249W, and my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Mid Dorset and North Poole (Annette Brooke) of 27 October 2011, Official Report, column 284W, for further details on my recent announcement.

Invalid Vehicles: Eyesight

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether she plans to bring forward proposals to impose a minimum standard eyesight requirement on users of powered wheelchairs and mobility scooters; and whether she has any plans to extend such a standard to cyclists.

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reasons her Department plans to implement a minimum eyesight requirement on users of powered wheelchairs and mobility scooters; and whether she has considered introducing such requirements for cyclists.

Norman Baker: As part of the Department for Transport's review of the use of mobility vehicles, I have asked my officials to undertake further work with transport operators, the mobility vehicles industry and user groups on a range of issues, including a possible minimum eyesight requirement for mobility vehicle users and incentives for them to meet these requirements. No final decision has been taken.
	I would also refer the hon. Members to my answers to the hon. Member for Bury South (Mr Lewis) of 26 October 2011, Official Report, column 249W, and to my hon. Friend the Member for Mid Dorset and North Poole (Annette Brooke) of 27 October 2011, Official Report, column 284W, and for further details on my recent announcement.
	There are no plans to require cyclists to meet a minimum eyesight requirement.

Large Goods Vehicles

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate she has made of the likely cost of the trial of longer semi-trailer heavy goods vehicles in each year of its operation.

Michael Penning: The Department published a revised Impact Assessment on 11 October which covers the estimated impact of the 10-year trial. The central case estimates that the likely annual cost to Government will be around £40,000. This covers the issuing of Vehicle Special Orders and independent monitoring of the trial.

Large Goods Vehicles

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the trial of longer semi-trailers for heavy goods vehicles will record the (a) proportion of empty-running vehicles and (b) fuel consumption of vehicles in relation to their load weight.

Michael Penning: The Department will be discussing the details of the data recording requirements with the independent monitoring body. However, the requirements will include data on fuel consumption and empty running.

Large Goods Vehicles: Accidents

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how (a) accidents and (b) near-misses involving heavy goods vehicles taking part in the longer semi-trailer trial will be recorded.

Michael Penning: The Department will be discussing the detail of how these will be recorded with the independent monitoring body.

Motorways: Speed Limits

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which (a) road safety groups and (b) other organisations will be consulted on proposals to increase the national speed limit to 80mph on motorways.

Michael Penning: We plan to hold a full public consultation on the proposals to increase the national speed limit on motorways in England and Wales. We will invite responses from a broad range of stakeholders and individuals.

Piracy: Brazil

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment her Department has made of the threat to UK shipping from piracy off the coast of Brazil.

Michael Penning: The Department is fully involved with discussions at the International Maritime Organisation on piracy issues and supports international counter- piracy activity. The International Maritime Bureau maintains figures on piracy attacks worldwide and, although I am aware of incidents off the coast of Brazil, this area has not been raised as a major concern for UK flagged vessels.

Public Transport: Olympic Games 2012

Bob Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what steps she plans to take to reduce disruption and delays to (a) bus and (b) train journeys in London during the London 2012 Olympic Games;
	(2)  what estimate she has made of potential delays to passenger journeys from Bromley into central London by (a) bus and (b) train during the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Theresa Villiers: Many of London's transport services are being delivered by Transport for London (TfL), as the integrated transport authority for London. Other transport operators, such as Network Rail, and Train Operating Companies also have a key role in ensuring that spectators can get to their events on time.
	TfL is leading the work on demand reduction, initially through the travel advice to business programme which is engaging with businesses of all sizes to help them find ways of reducing their travel demand next summer. A further phase of this work, to engage with individual commuters and other travellers, is due to start in the new year.
	The Department for Transport will be leading Government's interests in the delivery of an effective transport system, which is a key part of hosting a successful Olympic Games.

Railways: Franchises

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when she received notification that the new operator of the Greater Anglia franchise planned to reduce the overall capacity on its services; when the decision was made to award the franchise to Abellio; what consultations were held with her Department during the franchise bidding process in respect of future capacity; and if she will take immediate steps to require Abellio to maintain as a minimum the current level of service provided by National Express East Anglia.

Theresa Villiers: holding answer 14 November 2011
	The Secretary of State for Transport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Putney (Justine Greening), was briefed on the proposition in line with the process for letting franchises. Following evaluation of bids and a robust analysis of competing bids, a final decision to award the franchise was taken by the Secretary of State on 19 October.
	Abellio will provide the same level of service that will be operated by National Express East Anglia (NXEA) from December 2011. The introduction of the 168 train carriages across the Greater Anglia network during the NXEA franchise term has resulted in capacity being provided in excess of current demand. It is therefore possible to deliver the capacity requirements with a small reduction in carriages. This saves costs and is reflected in the premium to be paid to the Department. However, the fleet will be deployed more effectively which should enable crowding to be reduced on some services.

Railways: Franchises

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the unsuccessful bidders for the Greater Anglia franchise had offered to maintain as a minimum the current level of service provided by National Express East Anglia; and if she will make a statement.

Theresa Villiers: holding answer 14 November 2011
	The Greater Anglia franchise invitation to tender required all bidders to continue to operate the current level of service being operated by National Express East Anglia until this franchise ends in July 2014.

Railways: Franchises

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will decline to sign the franchise agreement with Abellio for the Greater Anglia franchise pending clarification of reports that the company plans to reduce capacity on the Greater Anglia franchise.

Theresa Villiers: holding answer 14 November 2011
	The Secretary of State for Transport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Putney (Justine Greening), entered into the contract with Abellio on 1 November 2011. Abellio will provide the same level of service that will be operated by National Express East Anglia (NXEA) from December 2011. The introduction of the 188 train carriages across the Greater Anglia network during the NXEA franchise term has resulted in capacity being provided in excess of current demand. It is therefore possible to deliver the capacity requirements with a small reduction in carriages.
	I would draw the hon. Gentleman’s attention to the service improvements that Abellio will be delivering during its franchise, which are detailed in the press release I made on 20 October.

Railways: Franchises

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much her Department has spent on (a) solicitors and (b) consultants on work on the (i) Northern rail, (ii) Southern rail, (iii) London Midland rail, (iv) South West rail and (v) East Midlands franchise in the last 12 months.

Theresa Villiers: The information requested is as follows:
	(a) In the last 12 months the Department has spent the following amounts on solicitors (external) in connection with the franchises shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Amount 
			 (i) Northern Rail 0 
			 (ii) Southern 0 
			 (iii) London Midland 0 
			 (iv) South West Trains 0 
			 (v) East Midlands 0 
		
	
	The Department, in collaboration with Treasury Solicitors, has incurred legal expenses relating to South West Trains franchise. Estimate of potential charge to the Department is circa £75,000.
	(b) In the last 12 months the Department has spent the following amounts on consultants in connection with the franchises shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Amount 
			 (i) Northern Rail 0 
			 (ii) Southern 0 
			 (iii) London Midland 0 
			 (iv) South West Trains 0 
			 (v) East Midlands 0

Road Traffic: Marble Arch

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions (a) she, (b) her Ministers and (c) officials in her Department have had on road traffic at the Marble Arch interchange with (i) representatives of foreign Governments and (ii) Westminster city council; and if she will make a statement.

Theresa Villiers: holding answer 14 November 2011
	With the exception of ‘trunk roads'; management of the road network in London has been devolved. Roads in London are therefore the responsibility of the local highway authority, either Transport for London or the relevant London borough.
	In this instance, the Marble Arch interchange falls under the remit of Transport for London.

Roads

Jackie Doyle-Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much the Highways Agency has spent on (a) maintenance of the existing road network, (b) administrative and staff costs and (c) new road projects in the last three years.

Michael Penning: Information on the Highways Agency's expenditure on maintenance of the existing road network, administration and staff costs, and new road projects is included in the following table.
	
		
			 £ million 
			  2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 
			 (a) maintenance of the existing road network 914 1,307 772 
			 (b) administrative and staff costs 88 82 79 
			 (c) new road projects in the last three years 759 715 982

Rolling Stock: Manufacturing Industries

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer of 21 October 2011, Official Report, column 1195W, on Crossrail hire: rolling stock, whether the discussions referred to in the answer included consideration of the desirability of supporting the UK's train manufacturing industry.

Theresa Villiers: Discussions on Crossrail rolling stock have included consideration that the publication of Invitation to Negotiate documentation for the Crossrail rolling stock and depot procurement be deferred, as a consequence of revisions to the project's approach to commissioning of the new trains. It is recognised by all parties that this deferral will also allow any relevant conclusions of the Government's review of public procurement to be taken into account in the tender process. As required by EU procurement rules, all bids will be judged on a fair and level playing field with all bidders treated equally.
	The Government's review of public procurement—part of the Government's growth review—is examining whether the UK is making best use of the application of EU procurement rules. The review will also consider the degree to which the Government can set out requirements and evaluation criteria with a sharper focus on the UK's strategic interest and how the Government can support businesses and ensure that when they compete for work they are doing it on an equal footing with their overseas competitors.

Speed Limits

Steve Brine: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what (a) statutory and (b) advisory guidance her Department issues to local authorities on the creation of new 30 mph speed limits.

Michael Penning: Local authorities are provided with advisory departmental guidance on setting local speed limits (DFT Circular 01/2006), which was published on 8 August 2006. The Strategic Road Safety Framework of May 2011 indicated that the Department will revise and reissue this guidance with the aim of increasing flexibility for local authorities. Alongside the revised guide there will be an economic tool for local authorities to assess the full costs and benefits of any changes to speed limits.
	Local authorities have a duty under section 85 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 to erect and maintain speed limit signs that are either prescribed in the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2002 (TSRGD) or authorised by the Secretary of State for Transport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Putney (Justine Greening), on roads that they are responsible for. The Department is responsible for TSRGD and has published guidance on the use of speed signs in Chapter 3 of the Traffic Signs Manual.
	These documents can be viewed on the Department's website but it is for traffic authorities to decide how to carry out their statutory duty.

Third Sector

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many letters she has received on funding for civil society organisations within her Department's area of responsibility in each month since 1 June 2010; and if she will make a statement.

Norman Baker: I regret that the information is not held in the format requested. Identification of the number of letters received regarding funding for civil sector organisations would incur disproportionate costs.

Transport: Infrastructure

Robert Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps her Department is taking to monitor transport infrastructure needs in relation to trends in the population to 2050 projected by the Office for National Statistics.

Michael Penning: The Department identifies potential needs for transport infrastructure using a wide range of evidence sources. This includes transport models which combine our statistics on travel behaviour with long-term projections, including population from the Office for National Statistics, to forecast travel demand.
	The Department also collects and publishes a range of official statistics that track changes in people's travel behaviour and their use of transport infrastructure. Most of these statistics are summarised in “Transport Statistics, Great Britain”, the Department's main annual statistical compendium publication.
	National Policy Statements (NPS) set out the Government's assessment of the need for different types of infrastructure, including in relation to trends in population. The Department intends shortly to designate an NPS for ports and to launch a consultation on a draft NPS for national road and rail networks.
	The Department is also in the process of developing a strategy for a sustainable future for aviation, providing a framework which supports economic growth and addresses aviation's environmental impacts.

Travel: Concessions

Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether provision is in place to provide access to concessionary travel schemes for people who are unable to use scheduled public bus services as a result of disability.

Norman Baker: Some community transport services provided under section 22 permits are eligible local bus services for the purposes of statutory concessionary travel. Local authorities are also able to offer travel concessions on any form of community transport on a discretionary basis.

JUSTICE

Bail and Accommodation Support Services

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent representations he has received on the operation of the joint working protocol on bail and accommodation support services.

Crispin Blunt: Operational guidance on the bail accommodation and support service (BASS) is provided in Prison Service Instruction 34/2010 and Probation Instruction 09/2010 effective from the start of the contract with Stonham on 18 June 2010. Further guidance has not been issued.
	I have received no representations.

Food Procurement

Laura Sandys: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much his Department spent on food procurement in each year from 1997 to 2011.

Jonathan Djanogly: The Ministry of Justice was formed in 2007; hence details of expenditure on food from 1997 are not available. Information is provided in the following table for each full year to date. From 2010, the Department has restricted catering for internal and external meetings, including in our arm’s length bodies.
	The following restrictions apply to all departmental staff:
	No lunches, tea or coffees can be ordered for any internal meeting.
	For external meetings, catering procurement requires director-level sign-off and are only allowed in exceptional circumstances.
	
		
			 £ million 
			  2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 
			 Ministry of Justice HQ(1) 0.921 0.677 0.420 
			 Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service(2) 6.278 5.995 5.376 
			 National Offender Management Service(3) 63.110 60.344 60.957 
			 Office for the Public Guardian(4) 0.013 0.005 0.002 
			 (1) MOJ HQ: Catering costs for external meetings (i.e. including visitors/attendees external to the organisation) and staff training courses. (2) HMCTS: In addition to catering costs for external meetings and staff training courses, the figures also include the cost of catering for judiciary and jurors. (3) NOMS: The cost of food is in respect of public sector prisons, and almost entirely relates to the cost of providing food to the prison population in England and Wales. It does not include any associated costs such as contracted catering services, staff and prisoner labour and training costs, the purchase of kitchen and servery facilities, utilities and other overheads. These figures also include a minor element for the cost of external meetings and staff training courses. (4) OPG: Figures relate to catering costs ordered directly by OPG, for external meetings and staff training courses. Other catering costs are absorbed by the MOJ HQ.

Older Workers

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people his Department employs who are aged over (a) 55 and (b) 65 years.

Crispin Blunt: On 30 June 2011, the latest date of headcount data published by the Office for National Statistics, the Ministry of Justice employed (a) 14,078 staff aged over 55 and (b) 1,083 staff aged over 65 years of age.
	This includes paid staff in MOJ headquarters, the National Offender Management Service, Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service and the Office of the Public Guardian.

Secondary Legislation

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many (a) statutory instruments, (b) ministerial orders and (c) other pieces of secondary legislation were issued by his Department in (i) 1990, (ii) 1995, (iii) each year since 1999 and (iv) 2011 to date.

Jonathan Djanogly: The number of Ministry of Justice statutory instruments issued in each year since 2007 (when the Ministry was created) is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of statutory instruments issued 
			 2007 86 
			 2008 146 
			 2009 154 
			 2010 103 
			 2011 (to date) 86 
		
	
	The number of statutory instruments prepared by the Ministry’s predecessor Departments i.e. the Department for Constitutional Affairs (created in 2003) and before then the Lord Chancellor’s Department, and issued in each of the years 1990, 1995 and 1999 to 2007 is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of statutory instruments prepared 
			 1990 53 
			 1995 79 
			 1999 118 
			 2000 123 
			 2001 161 
			 2002 75 
			 2003 132 
			 2004 136 
			 2005 154 
			 2006 96 
			 2007 48 
		
	
	The figures listed in the above table include ministerial orders, Orders in Council and other types of secondary legislation prepared by the Ministry of Justice, Department for Constitutional Affairs or Lord Chancellor’s Department that were issued as statutory instruments.
	Information regarding the number of ministerial orders and other pieces of secondary legislation prepared by the Ministry of Justice or its predecessor Departments that were not issued as statutory instruments is not held centrally and could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.

Duchy of Cornwall

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what information his Department holds on whether under fee simple provisions the freehold of property in the county of Cornwall would revert to (a) the Crown and (b) the Duchy of Cornwall.

Jonathan Djanogly: Reverter may occur in the context of escheat or the operation of a right of reverter. When a freehold estate determines (for example by disclaimer) the land escheats to the Crown or, if situated within the Duchy of Lancaster or the Duchy of Cornwall, to the relevant Duchy. Where land is owned subject to an express or implied right of reverter the benefit of the right will vest in the relevant owner.
	The Ministry of Justice does not hold information on whether freehold property in the county of Cornwall would, in this sense, revert to the Crown or the Duchy of Cornwall.

Harassment: Offenders

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether he has any plans to require individuals convicted under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 to participate in mental health treatment in England and Wales.

Crispin Blunt: There are no plans to specifically require individuals convicted under the Protection from Harassment Act to undergo mental health treatment. However, the courts have comprehensive powers under the Mental Health Act 1983 to assess any mentally disordered defendants during the trial process. This includes powers to divert offenders out of the criminal justice system, ordering their admission to a secure hospital by way of a hospital order.
	For those offenders who meet the threshold of a community order, courts may make use of a Mental Health Treatment Requirement (MHTR) as part of a community order to help treat mental health problems. In all cases, an MHTR can only be issued if the offender has been assessed by a senior medical practitioner and they have expressed their willingness to comply.
	We are currently taking provisions through the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill to remove the reliance upon the assessment of a senior medical practitioner to allow a wider range of medical practitioners to carry out the initial assessment, which would help reduce unnecessary bureaucracy and delays in the court process.
	We are also working with the Department of Health and the Home Office to deliver the Government's commitment to roll out liaison and diversion services that identify mental health problems, and wider health needs, in police custody suites and at courts by 2014.

Harassment: Offenders

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether court reports by probation staff on people convicted under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 include social histories.

Crispin Blunt: Pre-sentence court reports are prepared by probation staff where additional information about the offender's circumstances and suitability for a sentence is required. Pre-sentence court reports contain information on the current offence, relevant details of the offender's circumstances and include an assessment of risk posed by the offender, in order to assist the court to decide on the most appropriate sentence.

Harassment: Victim Support Schemes

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many victims of stalking or harassment were referred to victim liaison units in probation trusts in England and Wales in each of the last five years.

Crispin Blunt: The statutory Victim Contact Scheme is operated by probation trusts for the victims of qualifying serious sexual and violent offences, as defined by schedule 15 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003, as amended, where the offender is sentenced to 12 months or more imprisonment, or for victims of certain mentally disordered offenders.
	An offender who has been stalking or harassing a victim may have been convicted under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997. Offences under section 4 of that Act (putting a person under fear of violence) are qualifying offences for the purposes of the Victim Contact Scheme. But some offenders will have been convicted of other violent or sexual offences as the primary offence. Data are not held centrally on the number of referrals by offence type to victim liaison units in probation trusts. Probation trusts would need to examine individual case files to determine whether the nature of the offence related to stalking or harassment, which would in turn incur disproportionate cost.

Prisons: Construction

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many (a) letters and (b) emails he has received on super prisons in the last 12 months;
	(2)  what recent discussions he has on the building of (a) new and (b) super prisons; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what recent discussions he has had on increasing the number of prison spaces; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  how many flags his Department (a) owns and (b) maintains; and at what cost to the public purse.

Crispin Blunt: ‘Super prison’ is not a term used by the Ministry of Justice for any of its prisons. However, three letters have been received on large prisons in the last 12 months.
	The prison capacity programme that delivered its first places in 2007 is nearing completion. Two new prisons will be delivered in 2012 in London and Staffordshire.
	Long-term decisions on the prison capacity programme will be taken in the light of future policy developments, but there are no current plans to build further new prisons in England and Wales. A number of contingency plans have been developed to manage fluctuations in the prison population. These contingencies include opening new accommodation early and using extra places in the public and private estate through crowding.
	Obtaining information on how many flags the Department owns and maintains could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Remand in Custody

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people were remanded in custody in each of the last five years.

Crispin Blunt: The total number of defendants remanded in custody at all courts, England and Wales, 2006-10 can be viewed in the following table. This includes those remanded in custody at any stage of proceedings who may have been granted bail at another stage of proceedings.
	
		
			 Defendants remanded in custody during proceedings at magistrates courts (1)  and remanded in custody at the Crown court, 2006-10 (2) 
			 Thousand 
			  2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 
			 Remanded in custody(3) 74.0 71.6 77.5 71.5 69.4 
			 (1) Data presented in this table exclude those who failed to appear and committals for trial or sentence to the Crown court. (2) Magistrates courts data for 2010 are estimated. (3) Includes those remanded for part of the time in custody and part on bail. Note: Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services within the Ministry of Justice.

Social Security Benefits: Tribunals

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the average cost per hour of attendance at a benefits appeal tribunal of (a) the chair of the tribunal, (b) a medically qualified member and (c) an occupational therapy representative.

Jonathan Djanogly: The Social Security and Child Support Tribunal employs both salaried and fee-paid judges. Social Security and Child Support Tribunal fee-paid members are paid per session, and each session lasts 3.5 hours. The current session fees are:
	(a) Tribunal Judge (Chair)—£218;
	(b) Medically Qualified Member—£155 (rising to £185.50 after the member has sat for 20 sessions in the financial year);
	(c) The Tribunal does not employ occupational therapy representatives but for certain disability living allowance appeals the panel may include a member with experience of a particular disability who will be paid £96 per session.
	Full details of salaried judges' remuneration can be found on the Ministry of Justice website at:
	www.justice.gov.uk/publications/judicial-fees-salaries.htm
	The composition of Social Security and Child Support Tribunal panels varies according to the type of case being heard and a three member panel is not required for all hearings. The average cost to the Tribunals Service of a completed appeal in the First-tier Tribunal-Social Security and Child Support was £239 in 2010-11.

Social Security Benefits: Tribunals

Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the average waiting time is for appeals to the Tribunal Service for cases relating to (a) incapacity benefit, (b) employment and support allowance and (c) disability living allowance.

Jonathan Djanogly: Appeals against decisions made by the Department for Work and Pensions on an individual's entitlement to incapacity benefit, employment and support allowance and disability living allowance are heard by the First-tier Tribunal (Social Security and Child Support).
	The average length of time taken for these benefit appeal types from receipt by the Tribunal to clearance or disposal in September 2011 (the latest period for which statistics have been published) is as follows:
	
		
			  Weeks 
			 Incapacity Benefit 32.6 
			 Employment and Support Allowance 24.2 
			 Disability Living Allowance 28.2 
		
	
	These figures include cases that were decided by a tribunal hearing and those that were disposed of by other means (such as being withdrawn, superseded or struck out).

Stalking: Harassment

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether victim personal statements are routinely made available to probation staff completing court reports where the alleged perpetrator was involved in stalking or harassment related behaviour.

Crispin Blunt: Probation staff preparing pre-sentence reports for courts will draw on all available sources of information to complete a full assessment of the offence and offending behaviour. An important element of the assessment is the impact and consequences of the offence(s) upon the victim, one source for which may be the victim personal statement. It is not possible to confirm that such statements are routinely available to probation staff as it is for the victim to decide whether to provide a victim personal statement.

Terrorism: Compensation

Tessa Jowell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what his estimate is of the number of people likely to be beneficiaries at any level under a retrospective compensation scheme for victims of terrorism abroad;
	(2)  what estimate his Department has made of the cost of retrospective compensation for victims of terrorism abroad at levels comparable to payments made by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme.

Crispin Blunt: The issue of compensation for victims of terrorism overseas is being considered alongside the Government's review of victims’ services and compensation. We intend to make an announcement before Christmas.

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Bell Pottinger Group

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change on what dates he has met representatives of (a) Bell Pottinger Group and (b) its subsidiaries; and what was discussed.

Charles Hendry: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 9 November 2011, Official Report, column 342-3W.

Carbon Sequestration

David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps his Department is taking to identify alternative carbon capture and storage projects since the withdrawal of the Longannet project.

Charles Hendry: The Government remain firmly committed to carbon capture and storage (CCS) and there are a number of promising projects proposed in the UK, including in Scotland. We will launch a streamlined selection process for future CCS projects as soon as possible and my Department will expand on our plans later this year. I can confirm that the £1 billion remains available for this.

Carbon Sequestration

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what progress has been made on establishing carbon capture and storage demonstration projects for combined cycle gas turbine power stations.

Charles Hendry: The Government remain firmly committed to carbon capture and storage (CCS) and there are a number of promising projects proposed in the UK, including in Scotland. We will launch a streamlined selection process for future CCS projects, including combined cycle gas turbine projects, as soon as possible and my Department will expand on our plans later this year. I can confirm that the £1 billion remains available for this.

Carbon Sequestration: Longannet

David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on the future of carbon capture and storage since the withdrawal of the Longannet project.

Charles Hendry: Ministers meet their counterparts in the devolved Administrations regularly to discuss a range of energy and climate change issues. In addition, my officials hold regular detailed discussions with their counterparts on specific issues relating to the development of carbon capture and storage. A representative from the Scottish Government attended the CCS Development Forum on 2 November 2011 to set out their continuing commitment to new CCS projects.

Freedom of Information Requests

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many requests under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 his Department has received in each month since May 2010; how many responses given in each such month disclosed (a) the full information requested, (b) part of the information requested, with some information withheld under exemptions in the Act and (c) none of the information requested; and in respect of how many requests received in each such month (i) (A) substantive and (B) holding responses were issued within 20 working days of the date of receipt, (ii) no substantive response was issued within 40 working days of the date of receipt and (iii) no substantive response has yet been issued.

Gregory Barker: This information is published on the MOJ website, in quarterly reports. DECC do not hold the information broken down by month as requested. For statistics from March 2010 to June 2011, the information can be found on the MOJ website at:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/statistics-and-data/foi/implementation-editions.htm
	We are not able to provide data after June 2011 as the official statistics for this period have not yet been published by MoJ. In addition, statistics on time taken to respond to requests over 20 working days will be published in their annual report.

Freedom of Information Requests

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change in respect of how many responses to requests for information received by his Department under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 the reason of (a) commercially sensitive information, (b) information not held, (c) information too costly to provide and (d) vexatious or repeated requests has been given in response since January 2010.

Gregory Barker: This information is published on the Ministry of Justice website, in quarterly reports. DECC do not hold the information broken down by month. For statistics from January 2010 to June 2011, the information can be found on the MoJ website at:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/statistics-and-data/foi/implementation-editions.htm
	We are not able to provide data after June 2011 as the official statistics for this period have not yet been published by MoJ.

Freedom of Information Requests

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change which Minister in his Department is responsible for determining whether exemptions to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 should apply to responses to requests for information under the Act; and which other Minister is responsible for making such determinations should the subject matter of the request fall within the ministerial responsibilities of the Minister with lead responsibility.

Gregory Barker: It is DECC policy that departmental officials, in consultation with DECC lawyers where appropriate, would normally determine whether exemptions to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 should apply to responses to requests for information under the Act.
	However, the exemption under section 36 (prejudice to the effective conduct of public affairs) can only apply if it is the reasonable opinion of a qualified person (QP) that the exemption applies. In relation to information held by Government, the qualified person must be a Minister or, if held by a non-ministerial department, the persons in charge of that department (for example, the chief executive).
	In DECC, all such decisions are referred to the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, my right hon. Friend the Member for Eastleigh (Chris Huhne), who will consult with the Minister responsible for the subject matter if he deems this necessary. Should the Secretary of State not be available within the timescales, this would be referred to the duty Minister.

Departmental Judicial Review

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what applications for judicial review have been made against his Department (a) in the last Parliament and (b) since May 2010; whether each such application (i) succeeded, (ii) failed and (iii) remains pending; what legal costs were incurred by his Department for each such application; in each failed application whether he applied for costs against the applicant and whether they were (A) awarded and (B) paid; whether his Department (1) paid for and (2) offered to pay for the legal costs incurred by each such applicant; and what the total cost to the public purse was of payment of the legal costs for each such applicant.

Gregory Barker: The information requested cannot be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what policies are covered by the control framework for his Department's levy-funded spending.

Gregory Barker: The control framework for DECC levy-funded spending covers the renewables obligation, feed-in tariffs and Warm Home discount.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the spending cap is for each policy covered by the control framework for his Department's levy-funded spending.

Gregory Barker: The spending caps for the policies covered by the levies control framework are published on the DECC website and summarised in the following table:
	
		
			 £ million 
			  Policy 
			  Renewables obligation Feed-in tariffs Warm home discount 
			 2011-12 1,764 80 250 
			 2012-13 2,191 161 275 
			 2013-14 2,615 269 300 
			 2014-15 3,203 357 310

Capabilities Programme

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many full-time equivalent staff work on the energy workstream of the Capabilities programme; and what the staffing level was in each of the last 10 quarters.

Charles Hendry: Many of the duties and functions of the Energy Resilience Team in the Energy Markets and Infrastructure Group contributes to the energy workstream of the Capabilities programme.
	However there are no full-time equivalents who work solely and specifically on the energy workstream.

Capabilities Programme

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change who the lead Minister in his Department is for the energy workstream of the Capabilities programme.

Charles Hendry: I am the responsible Minister, as the energy workstream of the Capabilities programme falls within my responsibilities for Energy Resilience.

Capabilities Programme

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the budget was for the energy workstream of the Capabilities Programme in each year since 2005; and what the budget will be during the comprehensive spending review period.

Charles Hendry: Work on the energy workstream of the Capabilities programme has been carried out within budgetary provision for the Energy Resilience Team part of the Energy Markets and Infrastructure Group. The workstream does not have a specific budgetary allocation.
	Prior to the creation of DECC, the work was funded by the budget for the equivalent teams in the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform and, before that, the Department of Trade and Industry.

Energy: Infrastructure

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what plans he has for the renewal of energy infrastructure; and if he will make a statement.

Charles Hendry: Over the next decade, our latest estimate is that we will lose around a fifth (around 20 GW) of our existing generation capacity as old or more polluting plant close. Up to £110 billion investment in electricity generation and transmission is likely to be required by 2020, more than double the current rate of investment.
	The Government set out their policy for the development of nationally significant energy infrastructure in the National Policy Statements for Energy, which were designated by the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, the right hon. Member for Eastleigh (Chris Huhne), on 19 July 2011. The Electricity Market Reform White Paper “Planning our electric future” described the package of reforms designed to deliver the Government's commitment to transform the UK's electricity market to ensure that our future electricity supply is secure, low-carbon and affordable. Copies are available in the House Library.

Energy: Mobile Homes

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent steps his Department has taken to assist people living in mobile homes with their fuel bills; and whether he has considered extending the warm homes discount scheme to them.

Gregory Barker: The coalition Government are committed to helping people, especially low income vulnerable households, to heat their homes more affordably.
	Park home occupiers, eligible for Warm Front assistance, can benefit from draught proofing and the installation or repair of heating systems. The measures will help them heat their homes more efficiently and where possible this may also lead to lower fuel bills. The winter fuel payments and cold weather payments provide additional assistance towards heating bills during the winter months.
	The consultation for the proposed Warm Home Discount Scheme did consider the issue of whether to extend eligibility to energy suppliers' customers who do not pay their electricity bill directly—for example, those who pay it through their rent on a caravan park or park home.
	However, due to the administrative complexity of identifying and verifying these individual circumstances, ensuring the benefit of the rebate was made available to the customer and identifying a means of making a payment, it was decided not to include these individuals in the scheme.

Energy: Prices

Ben Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will estimate the effect on the average household's gas and electricity bills in 2020 of his Department's policy decisions since May 2010.

Charles Hendry: In July 2010, DECC published analysis on the estimated impact of energy and climate change policies on the average household and medium-sized business user's energy bill, available online at:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/media/viewfile.ashx?filetype=4&filepath=What%we%20do/UK%20energy%20supply/236-impacts-energy-climate-change-policies.pdf&minwidth-true
	Since July 2010, the coalition Government has made a number of policy announcements which mean that the impact of energy and climate change policies on the average household and medium-sized business user's energy bill is expected to be lower. These announcements include proposals on electricity market reform and the Green Deal, the introduction of the carbon price floor, consultations on new cost-effective levels of support for large-scale renewable electricity and lower tariffs and energy efficiency eligibility requirement for solar PV under the feed-in tariff scheme, the decisions to fund the renewable heat incentive from general taxation rather than through a levy on fossil fuel suppliers and the decision to consider several alternative funding options for the Government's carbon capture and storage commitments rather than through their own levy.
	Updated energy bill estimates accounting for all these announcements and proposed changes will be published alongside the forthcoming Annual Energy Statement later this year.

Energy: Prices

Ben Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will estimate how much (a) an average household and (b) all consumers will save in the cost of energy bills as a result of his policy decisions on (i) feed-in tariffs for large-scale solar installations, (ii) feed-in tariffs for small-scale solar installations, (iii) the renewable heat incentive, (iv) carbon capture and storage and (v) other energy and climate change policies up to 2020.

Charles Hendry: On 31 October 2011, DECC published a consultation on the Government's proposals for lower tariffs and energy efficiency eligibility requirements for solar PV under the feed-in tariff scheme. The accompanying impact assessment, available online at:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/11/consultation/fits-comp-review-p1/3416-fits-IA-solar-pv-draft.pdf
	presents the estimated impact of these proposals on all consumers and the average household electricity bill to 2020.
	In July 2010, DECC published analysis on the estimated impact of energy and climate change policies on the average household and medium-sized business user's energy bill, available online at:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/media/viewfile.ashx?filetype=4&filepath=What%20we%20do/UK%20energy%20supply/236-impacts-energy-climate-change-policies.pdf&minwidth=true
	Since July 2010, the coalition Government has made a number of policy announcements which mean that the impact of energy and climate change policies on the average household and medium-sized business user's energy bill is expected to be lower. These announcements include proposals on electricity market reform and the Green Deal, the introduction of the carbon price floor, consultations on new cost-effective levels of support for large-scale renewable electricity and lower tariffs and energy efficiency eligibility requirement for solar PV under the feed-in tariff scheme, the decisions to fund the renewable heat incentive from general taxation rather than through a levy on fossil fuel suppliers and the decision to consider several alternative funding options for the Government's carbon capture and storage commitments rather than through their own levy.
	Updated energy bill estimates accounting for all these announcements and proposed changes will be published alongside the forthcoming Annual Energy Statement later this year.

European Union

Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many ministerial-level meetings have been held in his Department during the Government's examination of the balance of existing European Union competences.

Charles Hendry: There have been no such ministerial level meetings within the Department of Energy and Climate Change.

European Union

Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many members of staff in his Department are working on the Government's examination of the balance of existing European Union competences.

Gregory Barker: The examination of these issues draws on existing resources.

Fuel Poverty

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many and what proportion of households were living in fuel poverty in (a) St Helens South and Whiston constituency, (b) Merseyside and (c) England in each of the last five years.

Gregory Barker: The sub-regional data requested are available for 2006 and 2008 and are shown in the following table alongside the annually published national data. Figures in brackets show the proportion of all households in that area that were fuel poor.
	
		
			  St Helens South and Whiston Merseyside England 
			  Number Percentage Number Percentage Number Percentage 
			 2009 (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— 3,964,000 18 
			 2008 7,400 18 109,000 19 3,335,000 16 
			 2007 n/a n/a n/a n/a 2,819,000 13 
			 2006 (2)5,100 (2)14 (3)84,800 (3)14 2,432,000 12 
			 2005 n/a n/a n/a n/a 1,529,000 7 
			 n/a = Not available (1) Available 24 November 2011 (2) Data for St Helens South constituency (3 )Combined Liverpool, Knowsley, Sefton, St Helens and the Wirral

Gas Fired Power Stations

Brian Binley: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many gas-fired combined-cycle gas turbine plants have been approved by his Department since May 2010; and what the (a) name and (b) megawatt capacity of each such plant is.

Charles Hendry: The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, my right hon. Friend the Member for Eastleigh (Chris Huhne), has granted consent to six combined cycle gas turbines (CCGT) applications since May 2010.
	(1) Spalding, Lincolnshire—900 MW
	(2) Damhead Creek II, Isle of Grain—1000 MW
	(3) Abernedd, Baglan Bay—870 MW
	(4) Wellington C, Derbyshire—2000 MW
	(5) Manorway, Stanford-le-Hope—900 MW
	(6) Thorpe Marsh, Doncaster—1500 MW.

Green Deal Scheme

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he expects to publish the National Occupational Standards for Green Deal assessors.

Gregory Barker: holding answer 14 November 2011
	We expect to publish the “National Occupational Standards for Green Deal assessors” by the end of the year.

Liquefied Gas

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will take steps to regulate the supply of liquid gas; and if he will make a statement.

Charles Hendry: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 31 October 2011, Official Report, column 370W, to the hon. Member for Vale of Clwyd (Chris Ruane).
	The Office of Fair Trading noted in its report of the Off-Grid Energy Market study, that there has been a generally positive initial impact of the Competition Commission orders from 2009. The orders make it easier for consumers of domestic bulk liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to switch supplier. The OFT will continue to monitor this area and is also engaging with suppliers on consumer protection issues.

Nuclear Power Stations: Construction

Malcolm Wicks: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment his department has made of the risks posed by construction on new nuclear power stations; and if he will make a statement.

Charles Hendry: To provide an assessment of the risks posed by construction of new nuclear power stations my Department commissioned “Engineering the Future to produce the Nuclear Lessons Learned” report which is available at:
	http://www.raeng.org.uk/news/publications/list/reports/Nuclear_Lessons_Learned_Oct10.pdf
	We will continue to work closely with developers to satisfy ourselves they have processes in place to capture and transfer knowledge gained from projects to benefit the UK new build programme.

Nuclear Power Stations: Hinkley Point

Malcolm Wicks: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what timetable has been set for the construction stages of a new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point; and what recent assessment he has made of progress against the timetable.

Charles Hendry: In October 2011 the Department of Energy and Climate Change published a refreshed version of the Department's indicative timeline for the first nuclear new build in the UK, including the actions the Government are taking. It indicates a development consent decision in early 2013 and (should such a decision be favourable) commissioning and operation from 2018. It is available here:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/meeting_energy/nuclear/new/new.aspx
	However, new nuclear power stations will be constructed by the private sector who will set their construction timetables. EDF Energy's application for development consent contains an indicative construction timetable to be used for planning assessment purposes. The application was submitted to the Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC) by EDF on 31 October 2011 and the IPC has until 29 November 2011 to decide whether it will accept the application. Once the IPC has decided, the application including the indicative construction timetable will be published and will be available at:
	http://infrastructure.independent.gov.uk/projects/south-west/hinkley-point-c-new-nuclear-power-station/

Radioactive Waste: Sweden

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what contractual commitments exist for the repatriation to the UK of radioactive contamination removed from the contaminated metals sent by Studsvik UK Ltd at Lillyall, Cumbria to Studsvik Sweden for decontamination since September 2009; and whether permission was required from the Environment Agency for such shipments.

Charles Hendry: All shipments of radioactive waste consigned from the UK to Sweden, since September 2009, are subject to a binding ‘Waste Return Guarantee' on the part of Studsvik UK Ltd; under the Transfrontier Shipment of Radioactive Waste and Spent Fuel Regulations 2008.
	Permission for Studsvik UK Ltd in Cumbria to send radioactive waste to Studsvik Sweden for decontamination was granted by the Environment Agency, as the competent authority for transfrontier waste shipments, in July 2009, under a registration which remains effective through to 7 July 2012.
	Under the covering letter of Studsvik's application to the Environment Agency a guarantee is provided to return the waste residues to the UK.

Renewable Energy

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the (a) turnover, (b) level of employment and (c) level of exports attributable to the renewable energy sector in each year to 2020.

Charles Hendry: Renewable energy development offers huge potential for UK economic growth. We estimate that around £100 billion of investment will be needed over this decade to meet the UK's renewables ambitions alone for 2020. The UK Renewable Energy Roadmap(1) published in July sets out the measures the Government are taking to maximise the opportunities for British companies and new investment in the renewable energy sector. The Government are committed to ensuring that cost-effective generation comes forward so that costs to energy consumers are minimised.
	We do not break down the growth potential into the headings and timings the hon. Member has listed. But he will be interested to know that in the first half of this financial year alone investments valued up to £1.7 billion have been announced in the UK renewables sector, and the manufacturing and other industries that supply it, creating nearly 10,000 temporary and permanent jobs if all of these plans are delivered. This is not a definitive list of the renewables market activity for this period, but indicates the continuing realisation of growth and investment opportunities in the sector.
	(1) ( )http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/meeting_energy/renewable _ener/re_roadmap/re_roadmap.aspx

Renewable Energy: Employment

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the number of full-time equivalent jobs in the (a) solar photovoltaic, (b) wind and (c) wave and tidal industries in (i) 2009 and (ii) November 2011.

Gregory Barker: We estimate that, based on the number of (a) solar photovoltaic (PV) installations by the end of October 2011, around 8,000 to 14,000 gross full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs have been supported by solar PV since the introduction of the feed-in tariffs (FITs) scheme. However, the total number of people doing some form of work related to solar PV is likely to be higher than this range because those who are involved in solar PV installations are also likely to undertake other tasks other than solely installing solar PV. We do not have similar estimates for solar PV in 2009.
	Estimates by K-Matrix (2011) for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills(1) show around 550 jobs in wave and tidal technologies and around 90,000 in wind energy. These estimates include the supply chain. K-Matrix's bottom-up methodology reveals more low carbon and environmental activity than standard industrial classification coding, and other previous estimates. It therefore risks double counting companies who produce goods or services for more than one environmental market. K-Matrix compare their numbers to validated and verified data sources to mitigate this risk.
	In addition, we are aware of a number of assessments by external bodies on the future employment potential of the renewable energy sector, including:
	Onshore wind
	RenewableUK estimates in ‘Working for a Green Britain Vol 2: Future employment and skills in the UK wind and marine industries’ that under a medium scenario, there could be around 10,300 direct and 6,100 indirect jobs in the onshore wind sector in 2021.
	Offshore wind
	The Carbon Trust estimates that the offshore wind sector could employ up to 66,000 people in the UK by 2020 with a possibility of up to 230,000 by 2050.
	Wave and tidal technologies
	The Carbon Trust's ‘Focus For Success’ report estimates that the wave sector alone could create around 16,000 direct jobs by 2040, with 25% supporting UK exports.
	Given these and other independent reports, I have no plans to commission further evidence but will keep this under review. The Government fully recognise the employment opportunities that the growth of renewable energy can create.
	(1) K Matrix, 2011, ‘Low Carbon and Environmental Goods and Services Report 2009/10’, available at:
	http://www.bis.gov.uk/policies/business-sectors/low-carbon-business-opportunities/market-intelligence/market-data

Renewable Energy: Feed-in Tariffs

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the statement by the Minister of State for Energy and Climate Change of 31 October 2011, Official Report, column 609, 
	(1)  if he will make it his policy to make an immediate exemption, lasting until April 2012, for Industrial and Provident Societies and Community Benefit Societies from the changes proposed to the feed-in tariff announced in the written statement of 31 October 2011, Official Report, column 26WS;
	(2)  if his Department will assess how community-based solar photovoltaic schemes can be supported by the Government in addition to the provision of a special feed-in tariff; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  if he will make it his policy to introduce a special feed-in tariff for community-based solar photovoltaic schemes that is higher than standard feed-in tariff rates; and if he will make a statement.

Charles Hendry: The Government's current consultation on feed-in tariffs (FITs) for solar photovoltaics (PV) is seeking views on whether more could be done to enable genuine community projects to achieve real benefits from feed-in tariffs and whether, for example, a definition of community scheme is required and, if so, how this should be defined. We will provide more detail on FITs for community-based schemes as part of a second consultation on the comprehensive review which we plan to publish at the end of the year.

Renewable Energy: Feed-in Tariffs

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the contribution by the Minister of State for Climate Change of 31 October 2011, Official Report, column 609, on feed-in-tariffs, when he (a) last met and (b) next plans to meet the Co-operative Group to discuss feed-in-tariffs.

Charles Hendry: Details of meetings between DECC Ministers and external organisations are published quarterly on the DECC website.
	During the development of our proposals for the Feed-in Tariff Comprehensive Review Phase I Consultation, I and other Ministers met a number of representatives of the solar power industry.

Renewable Energy: Feed-in Tariffs

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many (a) solar photovoltaic installations, (b) wind turbines, (c) hydroelectricity, (d) anaerobic digesters and (e) micro combined heat and power systems have been installed in the UK under the feed-in tariff scheme.

Gregory Barker: The Ofgem Central FITs Register shows the following number of installations registered for FITs as at 8 November 2011:
	
		
			 Installations 
			 Technology Number 
			 Solar photovoltaic 96,178 
			 Wind 1,927 
			 Hydroelectricity 242 
			 Anaerobic digestion 13 
			 Micro CHP 280

Renewable Energy: Feed-in Tariffs

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the budget is for the feed-in-tariff scheme for each year from 2010 to 2015.

Gregory Barker: The spending envelope for the feed-in tariffs (FITs) scheme over the current spending review period is set out in the following table (with annual allocations in nominal prices). It is important to note that the figure for each year is effectively cumulative, because it must cover the costs of paying for projects accredited in previous years of the scheme as well as new projects that year. The figure for 2014-15 reflects the agreement made through last year's spending review that savings of 10% would be found in that year.
	
		
			 FITs £ million 
			 2011-12 80 
			 2012-13 161 
			 2013-14 269 
			 2014-15 357 
		
	
	This information is published on our website in a question and answer document which details the spending envelope for all the DECC levies-funded policies and can be viewed at:
	www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/11/funding-support/fuel-poverty/3290-control-fwork-decc-levyfunded-spending.pdf

Solar Power

Christopher Pincher: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what proportion of (a) the UK, (b) the West Midlands and (c) Staffordshire's electricity needs could be met by solar photovoltaics.

Gregory Barker: The 2050 Calculator developed by the Department suggests that solar PV could contribute up to 127 TWh of electricity a year by 2030 and 140 TWh by 2050. This would be an extremely ambitious level of deployment without precedent anywhere else in the world, equivalent to covering 1.3% of the UK in solar panels by 2050—approximately the same area as that currently covered by buildings. Without accompanying electricity storage infrastructure, it could also only generate electricity during daylight hours.
	Were the electricity generation of 2010 (381 TWh)(1) to be maintained out to 2050, this level of deployment would meet up to 37% of total electricity daytime demand. However, the 2050 Pathways Analysis(2) published by the Department earlier this year suggests that electricity demand is likely to increase in the future, so this maximum potential figure is likely to be far lower in reality.
	(1) MMG, DUKES 2011-Chapter 5, 2011
	(2) HMG, 2050 Pathways Analysis: the Government's Response to the Call for Evidence—Part I, 2011

Solar Power: Feed-in Tariffs

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent estimate his Department has made of the level of growth in the solar industry in (a) the last 15 years and (b) since the introduction of feed-in-tariffs.

Charles Hendry: DECC does not keep long-term records of employment levels in the solar PV sector.
	We estimate that, based on the number of solar photovoltaic installations by the end of October 2011, around 8,000 to 14,000 gross full-time equivalent jobs have been supported by solar PV since the introduction of the feed-in tariffs (FITs) scheme. The total number of people doing some solar PV work is likely to be higher than this range because those who are involved in solar PV installations are also likely to undertake other tasks linked to their employment.
	An impact assessment has been published to support the consultation on FITs for solar PV. This includes an assessment of the economic impacts of the consultation proposals, including the impact on jobs. The impact assessment is available at:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/11/consultation/fits-comp-review-p1/3416-fits-IA-solar-pv-draft.pdf

Solar Power: Feed-in Tariffs

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent estimate he has made of average installation times for those ordering solar photovoltaic installations (a) nationally and (b) in each nation and region.

Gregory Barker: holding answer 10 November 2011
	The Department does not hold formal data on solar photovoltaic installation times, as installations are commercial arrangements between a customer and an installer. Installation times will vary between sites, depending on a number of factors including the nature of installation and the company carrying it out. Typical installation times for domestic systems (up to 4 kW) are around two to three days, with larger installations taking longer.

Solar Power: Feed-in Tariffs

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the likely effect on employment of a reduction in the feed-in tariff for solar photovoltaic installations before 31 March 2012.

Charles Hendry: An impact assessment has been published to support the consultation on feed-in tariffs for solar photovoltaics (PV). This includes an assessment of the economic impacts of the consultation proposals, including the impact on jobs. The impact assessment is available at:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/11/consultation/fits-comp-review-p1/3416-fits-IA-solar-pv-draft.pdf

Solar Power: Feed-in Tariffs

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the effect the changes in subsidy under the feed-in tariff scheme will have on future investment in the solar industry.

Gregory Barker: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Cambridge (Dr Huppert) on 14 November 2011, Official Report, column 595W.

Solar Power: Feed-in Tariffs

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what information his Department holds on the proportion of solar panels installed on domestic houses which were manufactured in (a) China and (b) the UK in each of the last three years.

Gregory Barker: This information is not held by the Department.

Tidal Power

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what plans he has to support the DeltaStream tidal demonstration project.

Gregory Barker: The Government have recently increased their support to the wave and tidal energy sector: first through this Department's investment of up to £20 million for the demonstration of arrays of wave and tidal devices, subject to a value for money assessment; and most recently through the renewables obligation consultation, which proposes increasing the revenue support for wave and tidal technologies to 5 ROCs/MWh (renewable obligation certificates per megawatt hour). This proposed level of support will help stimulate further investment into the marine energy sector.
	Earlier this year, I established a new UK Marine Energy programme, which allows us to work with the sector to remove barriers to development and to bring forward a programme of policies across Government, led by DECC, to enable the sector to move to commercial deployment over the coming five years.
	I want to raise the ambition for marine energy in the UK and hope that these measures will catalyse the industry, including the DeltaStream tidal demonstration project.

Warm Front Scheme: St Helens

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many households in St Helens South and Whiston constituency have received assistance under the Warm Front scheme in each of the last five years; and what the average level of grant provided under the scheme was in each such year.

Gregory Barker: The following table indicates the number of households assisted by Warm Front and the average level of grant provided under the scheme in St Helens South and Whiston(1) and the average spend nationally in each of the last six years;
	
		
			  2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 
			 Total spend (£) 564,915.02 1,023,489.50 1,416,534.04 1,206,752.76 791,041.64 1,194,649.75 
			 Households assisted 560 914 1,292 763 858 381 
			 Average level of assistance (£) 1,008.78 1,119.79 1,096.39 1,581.59 921.96 3,135.56 
			 Average level of assistance in England (£) 1,081.43 1,245.00 1,313.92 1,701.24 1,784.42 2,896.85 
			 (1) St Helens South and Whiston is a new parliamentary constituency. The information prior to 2010-11 relates to the former constituency of St Helens South.

BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS

Apprentices: Tees Valley

Ian Swales: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the change in the number of people undertaking apprenticeships in (a) Redcar constituency and (b) the Tees Valley since May 2010.

John Hayes: holding answer 14 November 2011
	There has been a substantial growth in the number of people undertaking apprenticeships both nationally and in the Redcar constituency and Tees Valley since May 2010. This is very encouraging and shows employers are continuing to use apprenticeships as a means of developing the skills they need for their businesses.
	Table 1 shows the number of Apprenticeship programme starts in (a) Redcar constituency and (b) Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland, and Stockton-on-Tees local authorities which comprise the Tees Valley sub region, between May 2010 (2009/10 academic year based on final year data) and July 2011 (2010/11 academic year based on provisional data), the latest period for which data is available.
	Table 2 shows the number of apprenticeship starts in (a) Redcar constituency and (b) Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland, and Stockton-on-Tees local authorities which comprise the Tees Valley sub region in 2008/09 and 2009/10, the latest years for which final data are available.
	
		
			 Table 1: Apprenticeship programme starts in Redcar  c onstituency and the Tees Valley, May 2010 to July 2011 (Provisional) 
			  2009/10 2010/11 Total 
			  Quarter 4 May 2010 to July 2010 (Final) Full year August 2010 to July 2011 (Provisional) May 2010 to July 2011 (Provisional) 
			 Redcar constituency 170 1,260 1,420 
			 Darlington local authority 160 1,430 1,590 
			 Hartlepool local authority 100 1,080 1,180 
			 Middlesbrough local authority 220 1,710 1,930 
			 Redcar and Cleveland local authority 240 1,840 2,080 
			 Stockton-on-Tees local authority 290 2,240 2,540 
			 Tees Valley 1,020 8,300 9,320 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 2: Apprenticeship programme starts in Redcar constituency and the Tees Valley, 2008/09 to 2009/10 (Provisional) 
			  2008/09 (Final) 2009/10 (Final) 
			 Redcar constituency 640 660 
			 Darlington local authority 680 690 
			 Hartlepool local authority 750 670 
			 Middlesbrough local authority 1,070 1,020 
			 Redcar and Cleveland local authority 940 970 
			 Stockton-on-Tees local authority 1,260 1,270 
			 Tees Valley 4,710 4,620 
			 Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest ten. 2. Geographic information is based upon home postcode of the learner. 3. Tees Valley sub region is comprised of Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland, and Stockton-on-Tees local authorities. Figures for Tees Valley sub region are based on the sum of unrounded data for these local authorities. 4. Provisional estimates for 2010/11 can not be compared with final figures for earlier years. Source: Individualised Learner Record 
		
	
	Information on the number of apprenticeship starts is published in a quarterly Statistical First Release (SFR). The latest SFR was published on 27 October 2011:
	http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/statisticalfirstrelease/sfr_current

Arms Trade: Bahrain

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent assessment he has made of UK arms exports to Bahrain; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Prisk: Following reports of human rights abuses in Bahrain earlier this year, all extant strategic export licences were reviewed and as a result a total of 41 Standard Individual export licences (SIELs) and Open Individual export licences (OlELs) were revoked.
	This Government take their arms export responsibilities extremely seriously and operate some of the most rigorous export controls in the world.
	All export licences are considered on a case-by-case basis against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria taking account of all prevailing circumstances at the time of the application. A licence will not be issued where to do so would be inconsistent with the Criteria or other relevant announced commitments. In particular Criterion Two concerns the ‘respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the country of final destination' and states that the Government will not issue an export licence if there is a clear risk that the proposed export might be used for internal repression.
	As events change, the risk assessment also has to change. This was the case with a number of licences issued to Bahrain. Export licences have been revoked where they are now, as a result of the situation that emerged in the region, assessed to be inconsistent with the Criteria.

Conditions of Employment

Mary Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many (a) full-time and (b) temporary staff in his Department are working on the (i) Employment Law Review and (ii) review of Government's workplace rights compliance and enforcement arrangements.

Edward Davey: There are 3.25 full-time equivalent members of staff leading work on the Employment Law Review and 1.5 full-time equivalent members of staff leading the Workplace Rights, Compliance and Enforcement Review. As both reviews cut across a number of policy areas, other teams are involved in specific elements of the reviews as part of their general policy maintenance and development responsibilities.
	There are no temporary staff working on either review.

Conditions of Employment

Mary Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills which external consultants are advising his Department on the (a) Employment Law Review and (b) review of Government's workplace rights compliance and enforcement arrangements; and what the (i) duration and (ii) cost is of any such advice.

Edward Davey: The Department has not employed any external consultants to advise on the Employment Law Review or the review of workplace rights compliance and enforcement arrangements.

Departmental Procurement

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions he has had with the (a) Secretary of State for Transport and (b) Minister for the Cabinet Office on the letting of Government contracts to companies based (i) in the UK and (ii) overseas; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Prisk: The Secretary of State for Transport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Putney (Justine Greening) and the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, my right hon. Friend the Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable) have discussed the matter and also jointly wrote to the Prime Minister to highlight the issue of public procurement and how we should manage the process in the public sector to sustain a competitive supply base that meets the UK's strategic needs within EU procurement rules. The Government are now looking at this area in the current phase of the growth review. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business Innovation and Skills, met the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General, my right hon. Friend the Member for Horsham (Mr Maude) to review progress on this work on 26 October 2011. The procurement work continues within the Government.

Exports: Licensing

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when he expects a decision to be taken on export licence application reference number SIE2011/008293 made by Nu Instruments of Wrexham.

Mark Prisk: holding answer 14 November 2011
	This application is currently being considered and we hope to make a decision shortly.

Green Deal Scheme

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if his Department will include an option for the Green Deal to be financed through the Green Investment Bank as part of its application for state aid clearance.

Mark Prisk: holding answer 14 November 2011
	Our current intention is to seek a state aid approval for the Green Investment Bank that would enable it to make investments on fully commercial terms (meaning in accordance with the Market Economy Investor Principle) across the green economy. If approved, this would provide scope to support projects delivering the Green Deal once that measure is in place.

Green Investment Bank

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what internal approval criteria will be used to assess the value for money of Government financial interventions in the Green Investment Bank.

Mark Prisk: All Government interventions must be compatible with state aid law and all products will be tested for value for money, green impact and additionality. The Green Investment Bank (GIB) will operate to a double bottom line of achieving environmental impact and making positive financial returns. Detailed value for money criteria are currently being developed.

Nuclear Suppliers Group

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many notifications the Government has made of refusal of export licences to the Nuclear Suppliers Group in the last 12 months for which records are available.

Mark Prisk: holding answer 14 November 2011
	The Government have made 32 refusal notifications of export licences in the last 12 months to the Nuclear Suppliers Group.

Regional Growth Fund

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what proportion of the Regional Growth Fund (a) has been paid and (b) will be paid to professional services firms to undertake due diligence for each grant provided; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Prisk: holding answer 14 November 2011
	It is for successful bidders to pay the cost of due diligence.

Regulation

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what regulations have been abolished under the Red Tape Challenge.

Mark Prisk: holding answer 14 November 2011
	This exercise has looked at 378 regulations relating to the retail and hospitality sectors. As of 9 November we have announced plans to remove or simplify 220 of these (over half). All regulations affecting business will be featured on the website on a rolling basis.

Solar Power

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate his Department has made of the contribution of the UK solar industry to gross domestic product.

Mark Prisk: holding answer 14 November 2011
	I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the right hon. Member for Don Valley (Caroline Flint) on 9 November 2011, Official Report, column reference 348W.

Trade Promotion: Saudi Arabia

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the name is of each company whose representative accompanied Lord Green of Hurstpierpoint and the Special Representative for International Trade and Investment to Saudi Arabia in September 2011.

Mark Prisk: Neither the Minister of State for Trade and Investment, my noble Friend the Lord Green of Hurstpierpoint, nor HRH the Duke of York, the Special Representative for International Trade were accompanied from the UK by business representatives during their visit to Saudi Arabia in September 2011.

Training

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department is taking to support the domestic (a) train manufacturing industry and its supply chain and (b) onshore engineering skills.

Mark Prisk: The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, the right hon. Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable), and the Secretary of State for Transport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Putney (Justine Greening), have asked their officials to work together with the sector and key delivery partners, such as UK Trade & Investment, to support the train manufacturing sector and the wider rail supply chain in securing more sustainable UK jobs through clearly identified business opportunities such as the Intercity Express Programme, Thameslink, Crossrail and High Speed 2.
	The Technology Strategy Board recently announced a £4 million Accelerating Innovation in Rail funding competition to support the development of technologies that are able to address the challenges facing the rail industry, as well as meeting customer requirements in both UK and international rail markets. It marks the start of a long-term strategic partnership between the Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) and the Technology Strategy Board.
	Additionally the Department's Solution's for Business offers a range of publically-funded products and services designed to help businesses to overcome key challenges and UK Trade & Investment explore export opportunities.
	Furthermore, on 14 October, we also announced details of the new £57 million contract to deliver the Manufacturing Advisory Service which works with manufacturers to identify and implement productivity and innovation improvements to improve their competitiveness. It will be a national service locally delivered and tailored to meet the needs of individual businesses and local economic circumstances. The new service will focus on helping small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) manufacturers in England to develop advanced manufacturing capabilities and could help create an estimated £1.5 billion in economic growth, 23,000 jobs and safeguard 50,000 over three years. It will start in January 2012.
	In order to boost technical and vocational skills for the engineering sector at all levels we are (i) doubling to 24 the number of university technical colleges we will establish by 2014; (ii) investing an extra £180 million to deliver at least 250,000 more apprenticeships over the next four years than the previous Government planned; and (iii) encouraging the development of new degree-equivalent higher level apprenticeships, which will include recognised engineering status.

Venture Capital

Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department is taking to encourage angel investors.

Mark Prisk: holding answer 14 November 2011
	Business angels are becoming an increasingly important source of start-up and early stage venture capital for businesses with high growth potential, particularly for businesses wishing to raise funding up to £250,000.
	The Government are supporting the development of a new £50 million Business Angel Co-investment Fund as part of a successful bid to the Regional Growth Fund. The fund will be available to invest, alongside Business Angel networks or syndicates, into eligible small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and is due to launch by the end of the year.
	Tax incentives, including the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) and Venture Capital Trusts (VCTs), support business angel investment. Changes in March's Budget were announced to the rules relating to EIS and VCTs, further encouraging individual investors. HM Treasury has just completed a consultation on changes to EIS and VCTs including a proposal to provide additional help for early stage companies, investments that Business Angels often undertake.
	Government also continue to support the early stage market through Enterprise Capital Funds which can include angel finance as part of the private investment leverage generated in these funds.

HEALTH

Climate Change

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effects of climate change on expenditure under the NHS.

Simon Burns: The Department has not made any specific cost assessments related to health services on the impact of climate change ahead of the outcomes from the climate change risk assessment (CCRA). The CCRA will provide a collaborative assessment across Government and help to prioritise areas of concern for consideration.
	Departmental officials have been working closely with the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) in their programme to develop a National CCRA. The conclusion to the first assessment will be laid before Parliament in early 2012 by DEFRA and will lead to the development of a National Adaptation Plan (NAP) in 2013.
	Within individual and independent CCRA sector reports, of which Health is one and which will be made available alongside the CCRA, a monetary assessment has been made to inform the economic efficiency of decision making.
	The national health service is a category one or category two responder under the Civil Contingencies Act (2004). Under these arrangements it is well placed to deal with the outcome of adverse weather events both in operational terms and in health care delivery. Climate change adaptation assessment and measures needed are the responsibility of individual health trusts.
	Through the changes that are being proposed in the Health and Social Care Bill (2011) more and closer working relationships will be established at local government and public health level to address the impacts of climate change.

Ambulance Services: Warrington

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the estimated transfer time is for an emergency patient between Warrington and Chester (a) during the morning rush hour, (b) during the evening rush hour and (c) at other times of day.

Simon Burns: This information is not collected centrally.
	Information on local estimated transfer times for emergency patients may be obtained from North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust or, in the context of Cheshire and Merseyside vascular service review, Kathy Doran, chief executive of the Cheshire, Warrington and Wirral Primary Care Trust cluster board.

Blood: Merseyside

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assurances were given to the Cheshire and Merseyside Vascular Review that clinical concerns about a centre based at the Countess of Chester Hospital could be resolved; and what steps have been taken to resolve such concerns since they were raised;
	(2)  what information he has received on concerns expressed by clinicians at Arrowe Park Hospital about decisions made by the Cheshire and Merseyside Vascular Review; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: Vascular services across the national health service in England are being reviewed locally. This is in response to the growing clinical evidence base that provides a strong case for providing vascular surgery services in fewer more specialised centres or networks to achieve optimal patient outcomes.
	Decisions about the provision of local health services, including vascular services, are a matter for the local NHS.
	The Cheshire and Merseyside Vascular Review Project board is leading a review of vascular surgery services in Cheshire and Merseyside which will be subject to public consultation in due course.
	Information on the proposed changes to vascular services in Cheshire and Merseyside can be obtained from Kathy Doran, chief executive of the Cheshire, Warrington and Wirral Primary Care Trust cluster board.
	One letter has been received on concerns expressed by clinicians at Arrowe Park hospital about the Cheshire and Merseyside Vascular Review from my hon. Friend the Member for Wirral West (Esther McVey), in September 2011.

Blood: Merseyside

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  where the two public engagement meetings for the Cheshire and Merseyside Vascular Review were held; what steps were taken to notify members of the public of those meetings; and how many people from each area attended each meeting;
	(2)  what matters were raised by the Cheshire and Merseyside Vascular Services Review about the clinical working at an arterial centre based at the Countess of Chester Hospital; following an application by the Countess of Chester Hospital and Wirral University Teaching Hospitals to form a South Mersey Vascular Network;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of the potential effects on other services at Warrington Hospital of the loss of vascular services; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: Vascular services across the national health service in England are being reviewed locally. This is in response to the growing clinical evidence base that provides a strong case for providing vascular surgery services in fewer more specialised centres or networks to achieve optimal patient outcomes.
	Decisions about the provision of local health services, including vascular services, are a matter for the local NHS. As such no assessment has been made by the Department.
	The Cheshire and Merseyside Vascular Review Project board is leading a review of vascular surgery services in Cheshire and Merseyside which will be subject to public consultation.
	Information on the public engagement carried out as part of the vascular service review, including details on the public engagement exercise, in Cheshire and Merseyside can be obtained from Kathy Doran, chief executive of the Cheshire, Warrington and Wirral Primary Care Trust cluster board.

Breast Cancer: Screening

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effect of proposed NHS reforms on breast cancer screening for disabled women.

Paul Burstow: Subject to the passage of the Health and Social Care Bill, from 1 April 2013 the NHS Commissioning Board will have responsibility for commissioning routine cancer screening programmes to a specification developed by Public Health England. We would not expect there to be any major changes to current arrangements for disabled women.
	Women who use wheelchairs and are unable to access the mobile screening units are currently offered an alternative appointment in static units in hospitals at a time and date that is convenient to them. Disabled women are also offered longer appointment times to accommodate their individual needs and enable comprehensive screening by mammography. Additional assistance can be provided if necessary.
	For women with learning difficulties, leaflets have also been produced to explain breast screening to help them make an informed choice whether or not to be screened. These leaflets are freely available to local screening services.

Cancer

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the findings in respect of cancer survival rates in the recent paper by Professor Colin Pritchard and Dr Tamas Hickish; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Burstow: “Comparing cancer mortality and GDP health expenditure in England and Wales with other major developed countries from 1979 to 2006”, published in the British Journal of Cancer (BJC), reported that mortality rates from cancer in England and Wales fell significantly between 1979 and 2006, a time during which the national health service spent proportionally less on health care than other countries included in the study.
	We know that England has a good track record on reducing cancer mortality, especially in men under 75. This is largely related to falls in smoking prevalence in the previous two decades and has little to do with levels of NHS expenditure. However, looking at cancer mortality rates does not provide a good way of assessing NHS performance as it is an indicator of both incidence and of survival. Survival rates are a much more effective way of assessing NHS performance as they show how good the NHS is, compared with other countries, in diagnosing and treating people with cancer.
	In terms of cancer survival rates, we know that we are lagging behind other countries. In “Improving Outcomes: A Strategy for Cancer” we have set out the ambition to be as good as the European average and save an additional 5,000 lives per year by 2014-15.
	A copy of the BJC paper has been placed in the Library.

Cancer: Wigs

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps are being taken to improve the standard of NHS wigs provided to people undergoing chemotherapy.

Anne Milton: The NHS Supply Chain has negotiated a national agreement for the provision of wigs to the national health service; this includes a patient satisfaction form which must be signed by the patient before the NHS releases payment. NHS organisations are not mandated to use this agreement and can choose to make their own supply arrangements. In these cases, they must ensure the quality of services is appropriate.

Care Homes

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total number of care home places was in each local authority area in each of the last 15 years.

Paul Burstow: Information on the numbers of care and nursing homes and places has been collected by several organisations during the period from 1996 to the present day.
	Until 2002, residential care homes were registered by individual local authorities and nursing homes were registered by local health authorities. The NHS Information Centre for Health and Social Care holds registration data collected from these organisations for the period until 2001.
	The Information Centre has provided information on numbers of care and nursing homes and places, broken down by local authority and health authority areas for the years ending 31 March 1997 to 2001. This has been placed in the Library.
	From 2002, care and nursing homes were registered by the National Care Standards Commission (NCSC), the first national regulator of adult social care services. The NCSC was replaced in 2004 by the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI), which was replaced in 2009 by the present regulator, the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
	We are informed by CQC that it can provide data on numbers of care homes and places for the period from 2004, when the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) was established as the regulator of adult social care. CQC has access to statistical data collected by CSCI. However, CQC cannot provide data for the years 2002-04, when homes were registered by the NCSC, as it is unable to confirm its accuracy.
	CQC has provided information, showing numbers of care and nursing homes and places by local authority area for the period 31 March 2004 to 31 October 2011. This has been placed in the Library.

Care Homes

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were waiting to be discharged from hospital because of a shortage of community care facilities in each local authority area in the latest period for which figures are available.

Paul Burstow: The latest information on the numbers of delayed transfer of care awaiting a care package in their own home and awaiting community equipment and adaptions is shown in a table which has been placed in the Library.

Care Homes

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of people in nursing homes in (a) Kent and (b) England in (i) 2008-09, (ii) 2009-10 and (iii) 2010-11.

Paul Burstow: Data on the number of adults—aged 18 and over—whose care is funded either partially or wholly by councils with adult social services responsibilities (CASSRs) is collected and published by the NHS Information Centre for Health and Social Care.
	Information on the numbers of care and nursing home residents who fund their own care is not collected centrally.
	The following table shows the number of people aged 18 and over who were in nursing homes in Kent and England as at 31 March 2009 and 31 March 2010, whose care was funded partially or wholly by CASSRs. Provisional data for the year ending 31 March 2011 are due to be published on 30 November 2011.
	
		
			 Number of adults—aged 18 and over—in nursing homes as at 31 March 
			  2009 2010 
			 Kent 1,515 1,490 
			 England 60,775 58,805 
			 Note: Figures for Kent and England rounded to the nearest five. Source: Adult Social Care-Combined Activity Return (ASC-CAR)

Care Homes

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of people in nursing homes in (a) Redditch and (b) England in (i) 2008-09, (ii) 2009-10 and (iii) 2010-11.

Paul Burstow: Data on the number of adults—aged 18 and over—whose care is funded either partially or wholly by councils with adult social services responsibilities (CASSRs) are collected and published by the NHS Information Centre for Health and Social Care. The Information Centre does not collect data on numbers of care and nursing home residents in Redditch. Data are collected for Worcestershire, which includes Redditch.
	Information on the numbers of care and nursing home residents who fund their own care is not collected centrally.
	The table shows the number of people aged 18 and over who were in nursing homes in Worcestershire and England as at 31 March 2009 and 31 March 2010, whose care was funded partially or wholly by CASSRs. Provisional data for the year ending 31 March 2011 are due to be published on 30 November 2011.
	
		
			 Number of adults—aged 18 and over—in nursing homes as at 31 March 
			  2009 2010 
			 Worcestershire 860 790 
			 England 60,775 58,805 
			 Note: Figures are rounded to the nearest 5. Source: Adult Social Care—Combined Activity Return (ASC-CAR).

Change4Life

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the budget of the Change4Life scheme is for 2011-12; and if he will make a statement.

Anne Milton: The budget for the Change4Life scheme for 2011-12 is £8.5 million, as approved by the Efficiency and Reform Group in March 2011. Details of how this will be used are within the “Change4Life Three Year Social Marketing Strategy”, published on 13 October 2011, a copy of which has already been placed in the Library.

Cystic Fibrosis

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  when he expects the national tariff for cystic fibrosis to be implemented;
	(2)  what analysis has been conducted into applying the market forces factor for the draft national tariff for cystic fibrosis; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what consideration he has given to discounting drug costs from the market forces factor in relation to the draft national tariff for cystic fibrosis; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: The Department is collaborating closely with the Cystic Fibrosis Trust, Specialist Commissioning Group Commissioners, clinicians and providers on developing a tariff for cystic fibrosis (CF) which will deliver high quality CF care.
	We have recently consulted on proposed tariffs with a number of national health service organisations, including CF specialist providers and national CF commissioning leads.
	Through this ‘sense check’ exercise we have sought views on the proposal to introduce a mandatory year-of-care CF tariff. We are currently reviewing responses before deciding if the CF tariff can be introduced on a mandatory or non-mandatory basis from April 2012.
	The prices shared at sense check were adjusted to take account of the market forces factor (MFF). The intention is that MFF would be applied to the CF tariff if it were introduced, as it is applied to all mandatory tariffs.
	Drugs costs are reflected in the proposed year-of-care tariff; therefore, as MFF is applied to the tariff, it would also apply to the drugs costs that are reflected in the tariff price. The calculation of the MFF takes account of the fact that some health care related costs do not vary geographically.

Dementia: Research

Chris Skidmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department spent on dementia research in each financial year since 1997-98.

Paul Burstow: Annual expenditure figures are shown in the following table:
	
		
			 Department of Health expenditure on dementia research 
			  £ million 
			 1997-98 0.4 
			 1998-99 3.2 
			 1999-2000 1.0 
			 2000-01 4.7 
			 2001-02 2.9 
			 2002-03 1.6 
			 2003-04 1.1 
			 2004-05 19.0 
			 2005-06 18.3 
			 2006-07 22.8 
			 2007-08 22.2 
			 2008-09 18.4 
			 2009-10 12.7 
			 2010-11 18.6 
		
	
	The figures for the years from 1997-98 to 2003-04 relate to national research programme expenditure. They do not include the part of the research and development allocations made annually at that time to national health service providers and spent on dementia research. That information was not collected prior to 2004-05.

Design Services

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what contracts his Department has awarded for design services since May 2010; and what information his Department holds on the location of such companies.

Simon Burns: In the relevant period; the Department's Communications Directorate has not awarded any contracts for design services.
	To trawl the Department and its related agencies to establish whether any other contracts for design services have been awarded would incur disproportionate costs.

Design Services

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department has spent on design in respect of (a) logos, (b) buildings, (c) advertising, (d) stationery and (e) campaigns in the last year for which figures are available.

Simon Burns: The Department has not changed its logo or stationery since 1999, therefore no money was spent on design of logos or stationery in 2010-11.
	No money was spent on building design during the same year.
	The Department does not hold data on money spent specifically on the design elements relating to advertising and campaigns. The information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	The Department's total advertising expenditure in 2010-11 was £4,230,478.

Departmental Food

Laura Sandys: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department spent on food procurement in each year from 1997 to 2011.

Simon Burns: The Department has spent the following amounts on food and beverages since October 2004. No data are available prior to that date:
	
		
			 £ 
			 Year (1) Total Food Beverages 
			 2004-05 832,117.14 554,744.76 277,372.38 
			 2005-06 833,411.13 555,607.42 277,803.71 
			 2006-07 796,003.72 530,669.15 265,334.57 
			 2007-08 877,529.83 585,019.88 292,509.95 
			 2008-09 830,226.72 553,484.48 276,742.24 
			 2009-10 692,759.81 461,839.87 230,919.94 
			 2010-11 452,293.00 301,528.66 150,764.34 
			 Total 5,314,341.35 3,542,894.22 1,771,447.13 
			 (1 )The financial year is October to September.

Diabetes

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to include an indicator to incentivise a pre-diabetic register in the 2012-13 Quality Outcomes Framework. [R]

Simon Burns: The prioritisation of potential indicators for inclusion in the quality and outcomes framework (QOF) is the responsibility of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence and its independent primary care QOF Indicator Advisory Committee.
	The Advisory Committee met on 8 June 2011 and recommended that the QOF diabetes register indicator should be amended to include other types of diabetes. These recommendations have been accepted into the general practitioner contract for 2012-13. These recommendations do not include patients who are classified as pre-diabetic.

Disability: Children

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which organisation will be responsible for designing care pathways and shaping local services for disabled children.

Anne Milton: Subject to passage of the Health and Social Care Bill, clinical commissioning groups will be responsible for commissioning services for children and young people with a disability or complex needs. They will work in partnership with the Health and Wellbeing Boards that will be a forum for local commissioners across the NHS, local government, elected representatives, and representatives of HealthWatch to agree how to improve the health and wellbeing of the people in their area including children and young people. We expect that the National Commissioning Board (NHSCB) will have responsibility for the direct commissioning of a number of services from April 2013. Included within those services will be services for people with rare conditions which are currently commissioned at both a national and regional level as described in the Specialised National Definitions Set.
	We have proposed that when commissioning children's services, both the NHSCB and Clinical Commissioning Groups will also seek advice from paediatricians, nurses and other clinical professionals with expertise across a range of areas. There will be senior clinical leadership for children's services within the NHS Commissioning Board providing advice and support to commissioners.
	Also the special educational needs and disability pathfinders, set up to test some of the proposals set out in the Green Paper “Support and Aspiration—A new approach to SEN” will have a key role to play in shaping and improving services for children and young people with a disability.

Disability: Children

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to ensure that information and support is provided to disabled children and young people and their families on the way in which reforms to the NHS will affect them.

Anne Milton: The Government has asked the NHS Future Forum to continue its conversations with professionals, service users and the public, including parents, about how to modernise the national health service.
	As part of this process, it has produced information materials that can be used by local groups to consider how these changes will affect them locally. Clinical Commissioning Groups and Health and Wellbeing Boards will also have a key role to play in ensuring that they provide information that takes account of their local population.
	We recognise that for specific groups, more tailored information may be required. Where this is identified as being the case, we will consider how best this should be done.

Disability: Children

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that clinical commissioning groups will meet the needs of disabled children and young people with high-cost and low-incidence conditions.

Simon Burns: The arrangements we are proposing for commissioning would see clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) led by local clinicians responsible for coordinating the commissioning of complex or low volume services; including those for disabled children and young people. CCGs will have the flexibility to enter into collaborative arrangements. They can for example adopt a lead commissioner/CCG model and develop risk-pooling arrangements to commission services.
	CCGs will have support to take on their role—general practitioners will be working with their clinical colleagues to draw on their expertise when designing care for patients. CCGs will also receive expert support and advice from clinical networks and senates on the design and delivery of services.
	The NHS Commissioning Board will be responsible for commissioning specialised services. We anticipate that the list of these services including specialised services for children, will be based closely on the current Specialised Services National Definition Set.

Disability: Children

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the merits of the NHS Commissioning Board establishing a Clinical Network for children with responsibility for developing care pathways for disabled children and young people.

Anne Milton: Clinical networks will support the NHS Commissioning Board and clinical commissioning groups to design pathways of care and shape services, based on a wide-range of multi-disciplinary input. Proposals for the role of clinical networks will be developed after the completion of a review of clinical networks which is engaging with a wide range of stakeholders to assess how the functions and range of networks can most effectively support commissioners.

Disability: Children

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he plans to take to improve health services for disabled children.

Anne Milton: The Government are committed to improving the lives of children and young people who are disabled and to providing more support for their families and carers. This is reflected in this year’s operating framework, where we identify disabled children as a specific group that the national health service should pay particular attention to.
	Subject to the passage of the Health and Social Care Bill, the NHS and public health reforms also provide a significant opportunity for improving the range and quality of services available to children and young people with disabilities and complex needs. The role of health and well being boards will be to examine the health needs of their local population and to design a joint health and wellbeing strategy to meet those needs. Clinical commissioning groups and local authorities’ commissioning plans will be informed by the local joint health and well-being strategy—including services for children with disabilities. The local services will be judged against the health outcomes and many of the indicators within the NHS and public health outcomes frameworks, either directly or indirectly require improvements in services for children and young people.
	The Department of Health also worked closely with the Department for Education in the development of the Government’s Green Paper “Support and Aspiration—A new approach to SEN” published in March 2011.
	As announced in the Green Paper, 20 pathfinders covering 31 local authorities and primary care trust clusters have been appointed to test the ambition of the proposals. This will include testing various elements to improve the current system including a new single assessment process with a single education, health and care plan along with the option of a personal budget. The pilots will run initially for 18 months.

Doctors: Pay

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average salary is of a junior doctor in (a) the UK and (b) Milton Keynes.

Simon Burns: Pay is a devolved matter. I am therefore not able to provide the average salary for a junior doctor in the UK. The mean total earnings for junior doctors in England (from April to June 2011) are tabled as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
			 Foundation year 1/House officer 32,300 
			 Foundation year 2/Senior house officer 41,200 
			 Registrar Group 55,800 
		
	
	These figures are published every quarter by the NHS Information Centre in "NHS Staff Earnings Survey" and are available on their website at:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/statistics-and-data-collections/workforce/nhs-staff-earnings/nhs-staff-earnings-april--june-2011
	The information for salaries of junior doctors in Milton Keynes will be held locally by individual employers, and the hon. Member may wish to approach each employer to obtain this information. We do not collect and validate this information centrally.

Drugs: Misuse

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to reduce the number of deaths arising from an overdose of illegal drugs.

Anne Milton: The Government published their drug strategy in December 2010 which aims to prevent drug use, interrupt drug supply and help more people to recover from drug dependence.
	Data published by the Office for National Statistics in August show that deaths from drug misuse, including overdose, fell by 5% between 2009 and 2010, from 1,731 to 1,625.

Health Services: Overseas Visitors

Chris Skidmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many visitors to the UK had more than one unpaid debt to the NHS of £1,000 or more in each of the five years preceding the changes in regulations that came into force on 31 October 2011.

Anne Milton: The Department does not hold this information. However, as part of the evaluation of a policy to amend the immigration rules to allow an outstanding debt to the national health service to be a reason to refuse a new visa or extension of stay to a person subject to immigration control, the Department estimated that around 3,600 people each year incur unpaid debts to the NHS of £1,000 or more.
	We are developing processes to ensure these data are available to the UK Border Agency to deliver this commitment.

Health Services: Overseas Visitors

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how much owed by foreign nationals for NHS treatment was (a) recovered and (b) unrecovered in each of the last five years;
	(2)  what arrangements are in place to recover money owed by foreign nationals for NHS treatment;
	(3)  whether he intends to bring forward proposals to change the system of recovering money owed by foreign nationals for NHS treatment.

Anne Milton: Entitlement to free national health service hospital treatment is based on ordinary residence in the United Kingdom or exemption from charges under the NHS (Charges to Overseas Visitors) Regulations 2011. These regulations place a duty on NHS bodies providing treatment to charge those overseas visitors who are not exempt and recover the charge from them. Many use debt collection agencies to aid this process.
	As of 31 October 2011, an outstanding debt to the NHS of £1,000 or more is a reason for immigration officers normally to refuse a new visa or extension of stay to a person subject to immigration control. The Department is now finalising guidance to the NHS on how to share information with the UK Border Agency to facilitate this. Further, the Department is currently reviewing access to the NHS by overseas visitors, including how to establish more effective processes across the NHS to recover charges.
	The following table shows the total audited income from overseas visitors under non-reciprocal arrangements and total audited losses, bad debt and claims abandoned for overseas visitors for each of the last five years, for England. As well as foreign nationals who are not ordinarily resident in the UK, these data include UK nationals who are not ordinarily resident here. The data do not include moneys owed that hospitals are still in the process of attempting to recover.
	
		
			 £ 
			  Income from overseas visitors under non-reciprocal arrangements Bad debts and claims abandoned in respect of overseas patients 
			 2006-07 15,182,925 5,046,763 
			 2007-08 18,167,000 6,468,751 
			 2008-09 17,541,000 5,204,856 
			 2009-10 17,127,000 6,967,780 
			 2010-11 23,333,000 6,773,733 
			 Note: We do not collect data from NHS foundation trusts so figures exclude these sites. Source: NHS Trust Audited Summarisation Schedules.

Heart Diseases: Ethnic Groups

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he plans to take to increase patient take-up of cardiac rehabilitation among (a) women and (b) black, Asian and minority ethnic groups.

Simon Burns: The National Audit of Cardiac Rehabilitation Annual Statistical Report 2011 suggests that there may be little difference in the take-up of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) between different ethnic groups, although women may be under-represented in these programmes.
	Several steps are being taken to improve the provision and take-up of CR services for all eligible patients. Among the resources available to help commission cardiac rehabilitation services are the Department's Commissioning Pack for Cardiac Rehabilitation and the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence's Guide for Commissioners on Cardiac Rehabilitation Services. These, alongside the National Audit of Cardiac Rehabilitation funded through the British Heart Foundation, and the NHS improvement work to support implementation of the commissioning pack, will help ensure that commissioners have the information they need to take account of the specific needs of all patients eligible for cardiac rehabilitation in their commissioning decisions.

IVF

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to ensure equality of access to IVF treatment.

Anne Milton: Primary care trusts are fully aware of their statutory commissioning responsibilities and the need to base commissioning decisions on clinical evidence and discussions with local general practitioner commissioners, secondary care clinicians and providers. The national health service deputy chief executive, David Flory, wrote to primary care trust commissioners on 11 January 2011 to highlight to those involved in commissioning fertility services the importance of having regard to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence fertility guidelines, including the recommendation that up to three cycles of in vitro fertilisation are offered to eligible couples where the woman is aged between 23 and 39.
	Additionally, we support Infertility Network UK, a leading patient support organisation, to develop and promote standardised access criteria and to work in partnership with commissioners to encourage good practice in the provision of fertility services.

James Paget Hospital: Sick Leave

Brandon Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many days NHS staff at the James Paget University hospital have taken sick leave in each year since 2006.

Simon Burns: Information on the sickness absence for national health service staff at the James Paget University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, April 2009 to June 2011 is in the following table:
	
		
			 Sickness absence at the James Paget University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust 
			 Period Absence (days) 
			 April 2009 to March 2010 37,730 
			 April 2010 to March 2011 34,295 
			 April 2011 to June 2011 8,365 
			 Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest five. 2. Figures are for national health service staff only and do not include bank staff or locums. 3. While a low number of recorded sickness absence days generally represents a low level of sickness absence it can also represent under reporting. 4. The NHS Information Centre did not publish sickness absence data prior to April 2009. Source: NHS Information Centre for Health and Social Care—Processed using data taken from the Electronic Staff Record Data Warehouse

Maternity Services: Finance

Chris Skidmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much and what proportion of spending by the NHS was on maternity care in each financial year between 1997-98 and 2010-11.

Anne Milton: Expenditure on the purchase of secondary maternity care by primary care trusts (PCTs) for 1997-98 to 2010-11 is set out in the following table.
	
		
			 Net NHS expenditure 
			  £000 Percentage 
			 1997-98 1,043,881 3.10 
			 1998-99 1,096,158 3.06 
			 1999-2000 1,080,520 2.77 
			 2000-01 1,258,219 2.94 
			 2001-02 1,324,780 2.79 
			 2002-03 1,256,757 2.41 
			 2003-04 1,350,286 2.18 
			 2004-05 1,544,838 2.30 
			 2005-06 1,677,204 2.26 
			 2006-07 1,616,777 2.05 
			 2007-08 1,786,896 2.06 
			 2008-09 1,968,563 2.16 
			 2009-10 2,407,090 2.46 
			 2010-11 2,532,350 2.64 
			 Note: The figures are taken from the audited NHS (England) Summarised Accounts for 1997-98 to 2010-11, which are publicly available. The figure is for secondary health care only; we have no information relating to primary health care expenditure on maternity services.

Medicine: Prices

Stephen McPartland: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what stakeholder involvement there will be in establishing the weightings for disease severity, level of unmet need and innovation to be used in any future value-based pricing scheme for medicines;
	(2)  what progress he has made in developing a value-based pricing system for medicines; and what steps he is taking to ensure a system is in place from 2014.

Simon Burns: The Government's response to the consultation on a new value-based pricing system for branded medicines was published on 18 July. In it, we set out our intention that value-based pricing will apply to new active substances placed on the market from 1 January 2014, however, the vast majority of branded medicines already on the market before 2014 will be considered by the successor arrangements to the current Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme.
	As we take forward our work in this area, we intend to collaborate with external experts and stakeholders, to ensure that the value-based pricing system is clear, robust and transparent, and that industry, patients, clinicians and all others who have an interest can understand how valuations are made in the new system.

Mental Health

Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what plans his Department has to support the development of step down and community services for people requiring discharge from secure mental health services;
	(2)  if he will assess the recommendations in the Centre for Mental Health's report on unlocking pathways to secure mental health care;
	(3)  plans to divide commissioning responsibilities for (a) medium and low secure mental health services and (b) step-down and community forensic mental health services between the National Commissioning Board and clinical commissioning groups.

Paul Burstow: “Pathways to unlocking secure mental health care” published by the Centre for Mental Health in April 2011 makes 12 recommendations for the national health service to improve quality, innovation, productivity and prevention within secure mental health services. The report recognises that the NHS is already actively working to address several of the recommendations.
	Secure mental health services are currently being commissioned as a specialised service by the four clusters of specialised commissioning groups in England. This means that standardised specifications, quality standards, quality payments and prices are being developed for secure mental health services, which will put in place the consistent framework the report calls for.
	Some of the specialised commissioning groups are already changing the balance of investment and reinvesting in step down facilities. For example, in the north west and south west there are good examples of reinvestment in step down facilities to enable the whole system to operate more effectively.
	The Department of Health and the National Offender Management Service have consulted and published a response on a pathway approach for offenders with personality disorder and commissioners are already changing the balance of investment in these services to enable earlier identification, progression and support in the community when appropriate for increased numbers of offenders. Commissioning for outcomes and involvement of service users is being embedded in every stage of the pathway.
	Although plans for the future commissioning of secure mental health services are still in development, it is probable that they will be commissioned by the NHS Commissioning Board and continue to be commissioned as a ‘specialised’ service.
	Forensic Payment by Results is also under development. Commissioning as a specialised service will allow the NHS to focus on outcomes, pathways and quality.
	Current work on ‘integrated care’, or pathways, has looked specifically at barriers to ensuring that the patients receive the right care at the right time and that the new commissioning architecture does not put any new barriers in the way. This work has focused specifically on pathways into and out of specialised mental health services, which includes secure services.

Morecambe Bay Hospitals NHS Trust: Complaints

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the system for complaints in Morecambe Bay NHS Trust.

Simon Burns: National health service organisations are responsible for managing local NHS complaints. Under the NHS Complaints Procedure, all NHS organisations must have in place a complaints procedure. The ‘NHS Constitution: the NHS belongs to us all’ (March 2010) also sets out the rights of patients who wish to complain about the NHS.
	However, the Department plans to review the Local Authority Social Services and National Health Service Complaints (England) Regulations 2009 in 2014, in response to the Health Committee report into Complaints and Litigation published in June 2011.

NHS

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on the level of consideration that should be given to patient access, including access by public transport, in any review of NHS service provision.

Simon Burns: In line with the Government's commitment to devolve power to communities, decisions about national health services locally are essentially a matter for the local NHS. People, patients, general practitioners (GPs) and councils are best placed to determine the nature of their local NHS services.
	We have outlined four new, strengthened criteria that decisions on NHS service changes are expected to meet. They must demonstrate strengthened public and patient engagement; consider patient choice; have support from GP commissioners; and be based on sound clinical evidence. Patient access issues should be taken into account as part of this process.

NHS

Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost to the NHS was of revalidating an individual (a) NHS and (b) non-NHS practitioner in the latest period for which figures are available.

Anne Milton: Revalidation is not currently in place for health care practitioners. Medical revalidation is currently being piloted and assessed throughout the United Kingdom with a view to implementation in late 2012.

NHS: Disclosure of Information

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will instruct each part of the NHS to lift any gagging restrictions on (a) present and (b) former NHS staff that (i) have and (ii) have had the effect of withholding from the public and the media information, evidence or justified concerns about levels of care in the NHS.

Anne Milton: The Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 provides that any clause or term in a contract, or other agreement between a worker and their employer, is void in so far as it purports to preclude the worker from making a protected disclosure.
	Health Service Circular 1999/198 made it clear that local national health service trusts should have in place policies and procedures which prohibit confidentiality “gagging” clauses in contracts of employment which seek to prevent the disclosure of information in the public interest, which includes information, evidence or justified concerns about levels of care in the NHS.

NHS: Disclosure of Information

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health in what circumstances a suspended NHS (a) manager, (b) clinician and (c) other employee is prevented from talking with colleagues and former colleagues by the NHS.

Simon Burns: The exclusion from work of national health service employees, and any conditions related to that exclusion, will be a matter for NHS employers in accordance with locally agreed disciplinary and grievance procedures taking into account the circumstances of each individual case.

NHS: Disclosure of Information

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which NHS trusts have settled an employment tribunal claim before determination with a confidential agreement restricting the release of information on (a) low standards of clinical care and (b) the number of failures noticed by the Care Quality Commission on essential quality and safety standards in each of the last five years.

Simon Burns: The Department does not hold this information. The Department does not routinely monitor the use of confidentiality clauses in compromise agreements. The Department's guidance, contained within the health circulars HSC 2004/001 for National Health Service managers and HSC 1999/198 for all employees, does not prevent the use of confidentiality clauses per se. However, it does state that NHS employers must consider with their legal advisers whether such a clause is necessary in the circumstances of each case and that if such a clause is included within a particular agreement that it complies with their various statutory obligations regarding the treatment of confidential information, including the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998.
	Before an employee considers signing a compromise agreement, which may or may not contain a confidentiality clause, the employer is required to pay for the employee to have independent legal advice on the terms of the agreement.

NHS: Employment Tribunals Service

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to require NHS Trusts to seek ministerial approval before appealing an adverse employment tribunal decision.

Simon Burns: The Government do not plan to introduce a policy to require national health service trusts to seek ministerial approval before appealing an adverse employment tribunal decision. The decision to appeal is a matter for local determination.

NHS: Pensions

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of (a) male and (b) female active members of the NHS Pension Scheme earn up to £15,000 but have a full-time equivalent salary of more than £15,000.

Simon Burns: Estimates based on data extracted from the electronic staff record in March 2011 show the following information:
	(a) Of those who are estimated to be members of the NHS Pension Scheme, around 80% of female Hospital and Community Health Services staff who earn less than £15,000 per year have full-time equivalent pay of more than £15,000.
	(b) Of those who are estimated to be members of the NHS Pension Scheme, around 50% of male Hospital and Community Health Services staff who earn less than £15,000 per year have full-time equivalent pay of more than £15,000.

NHS: Sexual Offences

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) male and (b) female victims of sexual abuse aged (i) up to 16, (ii) between 16 and 40 and (iii) over 40 have received NHS treatment arising from that abuse in each of the last 10 years.

Anne Milton: Information is not available in the form requested as data on this treatment are not collected centrally. However, information on admissions for 'sexual assault by bodily force' is recorded and figures are provided in the table. This does not include people treated in accident and emergency, out-patients or primary care settings and does not reflect the number of people who have been abused, as the same person may have been admitted more than once.
	
		
			 Count of finished admission episodes  with a cause code  of Y05 in England, 2010-11 to 2001-02 
			 Activity in  English NHS hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector 
			  2010-11 2009-10 2008-09 2007-08 2006-07 2005-06 2004-05 2003-04 2002-03 2001-02 
			 Male           
			 Under 16 13 6 9 12 10 10 7 6 4 4 
			 16 to 40 92 93 60 68 86 91 79 44 40 42 
			 Over 40 33 20 25 19 26 16 21 13 9 7 
			 Unknown 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Total 141 119 94 99 122 117 107 63 53 53 
			            
			 Female           
			 Under 16 28 28 21 18 14 22 21 23 18 19 
			 16 to 40 96 66 74 68 72 79 65 60 33 41 
			 Over 40 31 31 16 11 25 19 22 13 13 7 
			 Unknown 2 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 2 
			 Total 157 126 112 97 111 120 109 97 65 69 
			 Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), The NHS Information Centre for health and social care.

NHS: Solar Power

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the potential cost to hospitals, surgeries and other NHS buildings that were planning to install photovoltaic solar systems arising from the proposed reductions in feed-in tariffs.

Simon Burns: The Department does not collect data from the national health service on the installation of photovoltaic (PV) solar systems under the feed-in tariffs (FITs) scheme or otherwise that would enable such an estimate to be provided.
	Decisions on the use of the FIT scheme will continue to be made by individual NHS trusts and at an individual site/building level. NHS trusts also have the opportunity to participate in the current Department for Energy and Climate Change Consultation on feed-in tariffs for solar PV up until the 23 December 2011.

Orphan Drugs

Kevin Barron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what applications for (a) specialised services and (b) orphan and ultra orphan therapies have been received by the Advisory Group for National Specialised Services;
	(2)  when he expects the Advisory Group for National Specialised Services to make a recommendation to Ministers on services for atypical haemolytic uremic syndrome; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  when he plans to make a decision on the commissioning of specialised services for atypical haemolytic uremic syndrome; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: The Advisory Group for National Specialised Services (AGNSS) received 29 outline applications for services to be considered for inclusion in the national arrangements for specialised services in 2012-13 and has received six drug therapies for consideration. AGNSS will be finalising its recommendations to Ministers on those specialised services to be commissioned nationally at its meeting on the 8 December 2011.
	Following that meeting Ministers will consider the recommendations made by AGNSS. Decisions on those recommendations are expected in early 2012.

Paramedical Staff

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of NHS paramedic posts which have been lost in the last 12 months.

Simon Burns: Information on the number of paramedics employed is collected and reported in the NHS Information Centre annual census.
	The most recent data available show that there has been an increase of 589 (headcount) employed in the past 12 months, with 10,089 (headcount) employed in 2009 and 10,678 (headcount) in 2010, the date of the last annual census.

School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans his Department has for the future funding of the School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme.

Anne Milton: The School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme is continuing.
	For the financial year 2012-13, the Department will continue to manage the service level agreement with NHS Supply Chain on behalf of primary care trusts, who will contribute to the scheme in proportion to their overall allocations.

Smoking: Motor Vehicles

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department plans to spend on campaigns to reduce smoking in cars in the presence of children in each of the next three years.

Anne Milton: £15 million has been allocated for tobacco control marketing and communications activity during 2011-12. The Department is currently developing a national campaign to remind smokers of the harms of second hand smoke and to encourage them to change their behaviour to protect children and non-smokers. This activity is planned to run in spring 2012 and the exact budget for this campaign has not yet been confirmed. Marketing budgets have not been agreed beyond March 2012.

Strokes

Geoffrey Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to maintain the supply of products for the prevention of a transient ischaemic attack which meet National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidelines.

Simon Burns: The Department works closely with manufacturers and other representatives of the medicines supply chain to ensure that patients get the medicines they need, when they need them.
	We have no reason to believe that companies supplying the medicines recommended for the treatment and prevention of transient ischaemic attack in accordance with National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidance (aspirin, clopidogrel and modified release dipyridamole) are not able to meet current demand from United Kingdom patients.